Activities of Evgeni KIRILOV related to 2009/2216(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
The need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus (debate)
The need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus (debate)
Reports (1)
REPORT Report on the need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus PDF (284 KB) DOC (225 KB)
Amendments (11)
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the responsibility of external actors to use their power and influence in ways that are fully consistent with international law, including human rights law; believes that reduction of further comopetiration betweenamong the external actors in the region should be pursued, but cannot come at the price of effectively accepting any actor’s claim to have ‘privileged interests’; is of the opinion that introducing conditions for respect forunilateral actions that undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the South Caucasus states isare unacceptable;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Fully supports the OSCE Minsk Group Co- chairs’ mediation, the Madrid Basic Principles and the Moscow Declaration; condemns the idea of a military solution and calls on both sides to avoid militprovocative policies antd rhetoric; furthermore calls on both sides to showdemonstrate more ambition in the peace talks and to abandon the tendency to prefepreferences for perpetuating the status quo created through military conquests in defiance of UN Security Council resoludetermined by military outcomes with no international legitimacy that create instability and prolong the suffering of war-affected local populations; calls on the international community likewise to show courage and political will to assist in overcomeing the remaining sticking points which hinder an agreement;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recalls that hundreds of thousands of personsrefugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled their homes during or in connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh war remain displaced and denied their right to return; calls on all parties to unambiguously and unconditionally recognise thiseir right and the need for its prompt realisatioto return; calls on the Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities and leaders of relevant communities to demonstrate their commitment to the creation of peaceful inter-ethnic relations through practical preparations for the return of displaced persons and other means; considers that the situation of the IDPs should be dealt with according to international standards, having regard inter alia to the recent PACE Recommendation 1877(2009), ‘Europe’s forgotten people: protecting the human rights of long-term displaced persons’;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that an interim status for Nagorno- Karabakh could imply interim legitimisation of the de facto authorities there; believes that inter alia in order to raise their credibility with a view to such a prospect, these authorities should rapidly abandon the positions that Nagorno- Karabakh includes all Armenian- occupied Azerbaijani lands and that displaced persons’ right of return cannot even be discussed at the present stage; calls on the Government of Armenia to exercise its influence in this respect and on the Council and Commission to join this calloffer a solution until the final status is determined;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Stresses the need to address the Georgian-Abkhaz and Georgian-South Ossetian dimension of the conflicts and ensure that the rights and concerns of all populations involved are equally taken into account; stresses the fact that the isolation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is counterproductive to conflict resolution and encourages Georgia’s efforts to devise a strategy that envisages engagement through cooperation; emphasises the importance of confidence- building measures and people-to-people contacts across the conflict;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Underscores the importance of free and fair elections to be held in accordance with international commitments and standards; notes that the last presiden as a precondition for deepening relations with the EU; takes note of the critical elections held in Armenia in February 2008 werconclusions of the observer mission of the Council of Europe Conce again violent and that repercussions of the internal crisis in their aftermath are still being felt; takes note ofgress of Local and Regional Authorities regarding the Yerevan City Council elections of 31 May 2009 and draws attention to the need for further electoral reform in particular with a view to strengthening post-election control mechanisms; notes that, while the municipal elections held in a peaceful manner in Azerbaijan on 23 December 2009 and awaits the report ofwere technically well prepared and peaceful, the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities observation delegation thereon; calls on the Georgian authorities to ensure that the local elections scheduled for 30 May 2010 take place in accordance with international standards and that the electoral law is amended accordingly, and reaffirms that securing direct election of mayors is crucial; confirms its and the EU’s position that elecfound that they lacked the essence of pluralistic democracy; calls on the Georgian authorities to complete the Election Code reform and to ensure that the local elections scheduled for 30 May 2010 take place in accordance with international standards and reaffirms that securing direct election of mayors on the basis of an absolute majority is crucial; confirms the position that the EU does not recognise the constitutionsal and referenda in breakaway regions are illegitimate;legal framework in which the elections in the breakaway territories take place and defends the political rights of displaced persons;
Amendment 169 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Considers freedom of expression to be a fundamental right and principle and the role of the media essential, is disturbed by the limitations on freedom of expression and the lack of media pluralism in the countries of the South Caucasus and calls on the authorities to ensure both; deplores the fact that torture and ill-treatment of journalists in custody continue to be a widespread problem in the region; is preoccupied about attacks on journalists in Armenia and in particular about the continued detention of opposition journalist Nikol Pashinian, despite the welcomed amnesty of 18 June 2009 leading to the release of a number of imprisoned opposition activists; iwhile welcoming President Aliev`s pardon for 99 prisoners on 25 December 2009 remains concerned about the deterioration of the media climate in Azerbaijan with cases of harassment and intimidation of media professionals and deplores the detention and sentencing of the two youth activists and bloggers, Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade; accordingly calls for their release following the appeal procedure in accordance with international standards and with respect for the principles of a fair trial as set out in Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights; calls on the Georgian authorities to clarify the situation regarding media ownership and the granting of media licences;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Takes the view that freedom of assembly must be guaranteed, as it is instrumental to the development of a vibrant civil society; is worried about the difficulties, direct and indirect, which civil society faces in organising itself and disturbed by the adoption of laws and practices that might indirectly limit freedom of assembly, including through administrative harassment, such as the intensified checks by the fiscal authorities in Armenia; is concerned about the lack of any serious; calls on the Armenian authorities to fully consider and implement the recommendations of the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee regarding the investigations into the events following the presidential elections of Februaryof 1-2 March 2008, whenre 10 people were killed and which led to the imposition of a state of emergency and restriction of a number of freedoms and rights; calls on the authorities in Azerbaijan, including the local authorities, to implement strictly in a non- restrictive manner the legislation on freedom of assembly which, as amended, meets most international standards; is concerned that in Georgia the 2009 amendments to the Law on Assembly and Manifestations may limit freedom of assembly and curtail the ability of the opposition to mobilise; underlines the important role of civil society for the peace and reconciliation processes in the region;
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Welcomes the possibility provided by the Eastern Partnership to deepen bilateral relations with the countries of the South Caucasus and the EU by establishing new contractual relations in the form of Association Agreements; highlights the importance of incorporating milestones and benchmarks to be included in the successor documents of the current Action Plans; recalls that the conditions for starting negotiations include a sufficient level of democracy, rule of law and human rights, and calls on the Commission to provide technical assistance where necessary to assist the countries in meeting the preconditions; welcomes, in particular, the Comprehensive Institution-Building Programme (CIB) offered by the Eastern Partnership as an innovative tool, specifically intended to help the countries to meet these preconditions; reiterates the prerogative of the European Parliament to be immediately and fully informed at all stages of the process of the negotiation of Association Agreements, also since it will have to give its consent for the conclusion thereof; expects the implementation of association agreements by all South Caucasus countries to accelerate the process of economic integration and political cooperation with the EU;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Calls on the High Representative for the Union’s Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to follow closely the developments in the region and to be actively involved in the conflict resolution processes; acknowledges the work of the Special Representative for the South Caucasus and expresses the hope that the High Representative will ensure its continuity and consistency; encourages the Council to consider the possible use of tools from the CSDP to step up its participation in the peace-building and conflict-m, including sending a large monitoring mission on the ground that could facilitate the establishment of an international peacekeeping force once an agreement processesis in place;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Reiterates the significance of people- to-people contacts and mobility programmes, especially aimed at youth; calls on the Council and Commission to make progress towards visa facilitation with thewelcomes the conclusion of the visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Georgia and calls on three cCountries and welcomes the initialling of thecil and the Commission to make progress towards visa facilitation and readmission agreements with GeorgiaArmenia and Azerbaijan;