No lasting peace for Ukraine is possible without accountability and strong democratic institutions, and the Council of Europe works tirelessly with its member states and on the ground in Ukraine to deliver on both. It also acts as a normative force in the Western Balkans region, supporting reforms on its EU path.
These were the key messages of Secretary General Alain Berset at the panel "Peace without illusions: Ukraine and Europe's security reckoning" at the 21st Bled Strategic Forum and during his meetings with European counterparts on its margins.
Ukraine: ceasefires end wars, law keeps the peace
"The peace that follows this war will depend on the justice we build now. This principle must be at the heart of any peace negotiations and agreements," Berset argued. "Ceasefires end wars, law keeps the peace," he stressed.
He reminded the public of the Council of Europe's tools and mechanisms to ensure justice and accountability - the European Court of Human Rights holding Russia accountable for human rights violations through the European Convention on Human Rights
