"Russia's occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea, unremitting attempts to destabilize the situation in eastern Ukraine, as well as persistent threats to this and other neighbouring countries constitute existential challenges not only to Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, but also to this organization and to the entire European continent, including human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Russia has violated international law, principles of the Statute of the Council of Europe and European values," the Lithuanian Foreign Vice-Minister stressed.
V.Leškevičius urged Russia to take concrete steps to implement the Geneva agreement from April 17 and invited the Council of Europe to continue to provide expert assistance to Ukraine in carrying out reforms, especially in the run-up to May 25 presidential elections.
During the Session, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe welcomed measures adopted by institutions of the Council of Europe and its Member States to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Secretary-General of the organisation was commissioned to prepare specific proposals to ensure more effective cooperation between the Member States of the Council of Europe and institutions overseeing how the countries are complying with their commitments.
