  PACE summer session kicks off in StrasbourgJune 23, 2008 - 14:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An urgent debate on the functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey, to which Turkey's Foreign Minister has been invited, a general policy debate on the situation in China, and a special debate on the state of democracy in Europe, involving guest speakers from civil society, are among the highlights of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) taking place in Strasbourg from 23 to 27 June 2008. Serbian President Boris Tadic will also address the Assembly on Thursday 26 June. Other topics to be debated include the functioning of democratic institutions in Azerbaijan, the fight against harm to the environment in the Black Sea, empowering women in a modern, multicultural society and the abandonment of children at birth. There is also a proposal to hold an urgent debate on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia - but only if the Assembly's co-rapporteurs judge, after visiting the country on 16-17 June, that the Armenian authorities have made insufficient progress in fulfilling the Assembly's demands following the February 2008 post-electoral violence. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt will present the communication from the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe's executive body currently presided by Sweden, on Monday 23 June and answer parliamentarians' questions. The Assembly will finalize its agenda only at the opening of the session.   Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot".   Partner news |  Related sections Latest news Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia  Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for childrenMoscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said.Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19.Armenia, India hold first defense consultations The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Naveen Nijhawan. |
