2008 ORDINARY SESSION

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(First part)

REPORT

Eighth Sitting

Thursday 24 January 2008 at 3 p.m.

Mr HERKEL (Estonia). – I congratulate the rapporteurs and thank them not only for this comprehensive report but for their active commitment during the November crisis and the elections. It was an excellent example of strict monitoring and constructive co-operation with the country.

On Monday, we discussed the elections, which were competitive and consistent with most Council of Europe commitments, but there is still much to improve – even more than we expected. The most difficult problems concern not the technical management of elections but the divided society. I am convinced that only through a deep analysis of society and the current state of political culture and a realistic assessment of reforms in different fields will we understand why that society became divided and how reconciliation can be achieved.

The first precondition is good will on both sides of the political spectrum, and the second important cornerstone is the balanced continuation of reforms. I emphasise that the Heritage Foundation and the World Bank rate economic freedom in the country as very high. However, freedom of the press has not developed as quickly. I think that the most important problems still lie in the judiciary. Efforts have been made to deal with the problems in prisons and detention centres, which is not easy, as the number of prisoners has increased, but the main question is the independence of the judiciary, an absolute precondition for public trust in the justice system. Therefore, judicial reform with transparent procedures and a fully transparent system for the appointment and dismissal of judges is extremely important.

The EPP Group asked me to raise a question about national minorities. The signing and ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages would definitely be a useful step in building trust in society and hope for a common future.

Last year, the Monitoring Committee organised an excellent seminar in Berlin on frozen conflicts. We also decided to continue its work in that field. One of the best interventions was made by the Georgian minister, Mr Bakradze, who presented a realistic plan for South Ossetia, including the development of confidence building at the grass-roots level. We must assist and encourage such initiatives.

Like the rapporteurs, I call on member states to invest more substantially in Georgia’s democratic future, security and stability. We have witnessed many difficulties, including the crisis in November, but it is important to remember that Georgia is co-operating with the Council of Europe. I strongly believe that it is making a serious attempt to develop real democracy, not an imitation or a so-called sovereign democracy.