At the opening of the Autumn Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, President Anne Brasseur stated that human rights must be above political programs and national specificities. In the period after the Second World War, an environment was created where it was meant to develop a human rights culture in which diversity would be respected, cooperation and mutual trustdeveloped, as the best remedy against hatred, oppression and fear. She stressed that the crisis in Ukraine is an example of the violation of human rights in times of conflict and violence. In this regard, she pointed to the role of the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly in establishing long-term democratic peace through respect for dialogue and cooperation.  

The President stressed that nowadays Europe is still facing other threats that are seemingly less visible, but also worrying. It is a growing neo-Nazism and the increased number of neo-Nazi parties and movements in Europe, which undermine the foundations of a democratic society. She believes that the rise of extremism and xenophobia is not an isolated phenomenon, but a problem of pan-European dimension.

At the beginning of the session, Ksenija Korenjak Kramar from Slovenia was elected one of the 20 vice-presidents of PACE.

It was also decided that the debate on the crisis in Ukraine should be held on October 1 2014, and on the next day debate under urgent procedure on threats and violence against humanity by the terrorist group "Islamic state". 

The focus of interest was the presenting of Vaclav Havel Award, which was established last year for special contributions of individuals, non-governmental organizations or institutions in the field of human rights. Vaclav Havel Award, in the amount of 60 000 euros, was awarded to Azerbaijani human rights defender Anar Mammadli. Since Mammadli currently is in jail, the Award was received by his father. At the ceremony of presenting Vaclav Havel Award, President Anne Brasseur stated that Mammadli deserved the award for outstanding commitment to promotion of democratic institutions and civil and political rights, cooperation and partnership with PACE and other bodies of the Council of Europe, including the Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as for special significant technical analysis of the situation of human rights in his country. Mammadli is the founder and president of the influential organization dealing, since 2001, with the observation of elections in Azerbaijan. Since then until today, he gave significant contribution to monitoring of elections, voters education, preparation of electoral materials, as well as reporting, at 13 elections held in his country. In December 2013, he was arrested and charged with abusing his official position, while in May 2014 he was sentenced to five and a half years in prison.

Out of total of 56 nominees who have met all the necessary criteria for the Vaclav Havel Award, the finalists were the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories and the Jesuit Refugee Service in Malta, which were today presented with diplomas.   

In the continuation of the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Report of PACE observation mission on presidential elections in Turkey, held on 10 August 2014, was considered.

According to the Report, which was adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly, presidential elections were organized in a professional and efficient manner. The possibility to lead the campaign in different languages, including Kurdish, as well as the possibility for Turkish citizens living abroad to vote in elections are a significant improvement. The report also notes some shortcomings, notably uneven representation of candidates in the media, misuse of state resources and inadequate regulations of campaign financing. PACE called on the Turkish authorities to take measures to eliminate identified deficiencies prior to the parliamentary elections scheduled for 2015.  

At today's plenary session, Report on the activities of the Bureau and the Standing Committee in the period from summer to autumn session in 2014 was presented.

In the afternoon, there was a debate about free topics where 36 MPs participated.

Members of the Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe took part in the sitting of the Socialist Group and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE Group). Also, they participated in the Meeting of the Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination, the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy and women's working group within the Socialist Group. Head of Delegation, as Vice President of PACE, participated in the session of the PACE Bureau.

Tomorrow, discussion will be focused on combating neo-Nazism, where the President of the Parliament of Norway will address the PACE MPs. In the afternoon, there will be a discussion on women's rights and perspectives of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation. Also, the PACE plenary session will be focused on improving the quality of education as well as vocational education and trainings.