The Council of Europe commemorated the first anniversary of the outbreak of Russian armed aggression against Ukraine at 9 a.m. on Friday 24 February with a solemn ceremony followed by a special session of the Committee of Representatives of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of its 46 member states.
Strong support for Ukraine, its independence and territorial integrity was reaffirmed throughout the morning. And this will continue to be the case “for as long as it takes”, as most speakers, whether institutional or governmental, have said.
The Council of Europe is all the more aware that this war, launched by one of its member states against another, has called into question its effectiveness in maintaining peace in Europe by promoting democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Its very raison d’être has been shaken by this unprecedented crisis in its history.
To address this, the Organisation has chosen to draw on its expertise, as evidenced by the ‘Decision’ taken by the Committee of Ministers to act for the establishment of a “Register to record and document evidence and claims for damage, loss or injury as a result of the Russian aggression”, which would operate “in co-operation with Ukraine, under the auspices, or with the assistance, of the Council of Europe”.
The 46 Permanent Representatives of the European Ministers of Foreign Affairs tasked Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, to present the modalities, “in particular concerning complementarity with existing mechanisms”.
In her speech, the Secretary General noted the speed with which the Committee of Ministers decided to suspend and then exclude Russia from the Council of Europe.
It was indeed the first international organisation to react, as early as February-March 2022, as was also highlighted by Emine Dzheppar, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, contacted by video conference by the Committee of Ministers. “It was a historic decision”. She believes that “every war crime must be punished”, a special tribunal against the crime of aggression is indispensable and the expertise of the Council of Europe linked to a register of evidence could be an essential contribution.
Tiny Kox, President of the Parliamentary Assembly, also stressed the “leading role” of the Council of Europe, which can draw on the expertise of the European Court of Human Rights to develop such a register.
Its creation is expected to be endorsed at the fourth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe, to be held in May in Reykjavik, under the current Icelandic Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers.
Link to the Committee of Ministers’ ‘Decision’: https://aeur.eu/f/5i0 (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)