14.05.2019, Paris.
The fulfillment of the Minsk agreements must not depend on Russia’s membership in the Council of Europe, the Foreign Ministry of France said in a statement published on May 14 at its official website.
In response to a correspondent’s request to comment a statement made by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavel Klimkin about Ukraine’s possible withdrawal from the Minsk agreements, a French diplomat said, “The commitments made by the parties with respect to implementing the Minsk accords must be upheld. They cannot be linked to the situation at the Council of Europe.”
Also, the official of the French Foreign Ministry added that “President Macron reaffirmed the importance of finding a solution that will allow Russia to remain in the Council of Europe with all the associated rights and obligations. France calls on all member states to support the ongoing efforts of the Finnish presidency in this respect.”
Russia stopped paying membership dues to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) after the Russian delegates were suspended in their voting rights, banned from being represented in PACE governing bodies, and from participation in observation missions.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
