ATS
After three months in his new role as Secretary General of the Council of Europe, former Federal Councilor Alain Berset says he is focusing his action on the war in Ukraine and the crisis in Georgia. He has already visited Ukraine three times in one year.
“I have witnessed air attack alerts on several occasions, day and night,” said Mr. Berset in an interview broadcast on Saturday by the newspaper Blick. “The entire country is involved in a war against Russia, a nuclear power. The whole country, not just part of it. There are no safe areas in Ukraine at the moment,” he notes.
Politicians in Switzerland want protection status S to apply only to Ukrainians in war-affected regions. The approximately 100 employees of the Council of Europe office in kyiv are also confronted daily with the horrors of war, adds Mr. Berset.
It is necessary to address all war crimes committed in Ukraine, says former Swiss interior minister. For this purpose, the Council of Europe has created a damage register which already includes more than 13,000 entries. This register must later serve as a basis for repairs, he adds, recognizing however that the question of financing has not yet been resolved. There are many Russian assets frozen across Europe, but this discussion is likely to be difficult, he notes.
Ukraine and democracy
Alain Berset took up his duties as Secretary General of the Council of Europe on September 18. During his first speech to the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, he focused on human rights, Ukraine, democracy and Europe.
He added that Russia must be held accountable for its crimes in Ukraine. He also stressed that Europe would support Ukraine in preserving its freedom and independence as well as in its reconstruction.
Russia was excluded from the Council of Europe parliamentary assembly after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Swiss
