Secretary General Alain Berset addressed the Ministers Deputies today, focusing on the ongoing peace talks around Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. In it, Mr Berset detailed the Council of Europe's ongoing efforts to support Ukraine and what the organisation can bring to reinforce peace in a potential post-war scenario, calling on member and observer states and the European Union to include this is any peace process.
Like all of us, I have paid close attention to the recent developments around the prospect of a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.
While it is too early to assess the outcome of the discussions taking place in Geneva, the fact that a somehow articulated proposal is on the table is in itself a positive thing. But let's not forget the context.
As these discussions go on and as I speak in front of you right now, soldiers are dying on the frontlines and civilians are being killed in their homes.
The brutal Russian aerial attacks on 19 November in the city of Ternopil were particularly shocking. The civilian death toll has now risen to 34, six of whom were children, marking one of the deadliest strikes of the entire war.
The Council of Europe has been supporting Ukraine in resisting the full-scale aggression since day one. We have been supporting our member state with all our energy, in the areas where we make a difference.
We must now be ready to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace. And we will do it where we have the most added value. Although we are not at the negotiating table, if you look at the substance, our work is clearly central in many areas covered by the proposed plan.
Think about elections; reparations; minority rights, including minority languages; religious tolerance; the path towards EU accession; humanitarian issues; not leaving aside the possible assistance of the Venice Commission in any constitutional reform which may be triggered by a peace agreement. Think also about restoring functioning and democratic local institutions, including judicial, in de-occupied areas. The Council of Europe has a unique expertise in these fields. Any provisions of any peace agreement will have to produce ECHR compliant effects in post-war Ukraine. And it is the Strasbourg Court, our Court, which will ultimately assess those effects.
