CE Secretary General Calls On Ukraine To Observe Human Rights

Secretary General of the CE /Council of Europe/ Walter Schwimmer spoke Wednesday against any sanctions with regard to Ukraine. He told journalists that the CE Committee of Ministers had not discussed Ukraine's expulsion from the CE. However, Schwimmer reminded that the report by the commission overseeing the fulfilment of Ukraine's obligations as a CE member state, contains an appeal to expel Ukraine from this European organisation for enroaching on freedom of speech and intimidating the opposition. Schwimmer maintains that Ukraine's expulsion from the CE will bar the organisation from monitoring the human rights observance in this republic. Schwimmer called upon the Ukrainian authorities to meet the obligations of a CE member state. I am sure that Kiev will take heed of this appeal, concluded Mr Schwimmer.