Parliamentary Assembly

EC culture committee slams Hagia Sophia move

The decision on Friday by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe's Culture Committee condemning Turkey's move to convert Hagia Sophia in Istanbul from a museum into a mosque was hailed by the Greek delegation head, Dora Bakoyannis, as Europe's response to Turkey's "systematic violations of democratic principles and values."

Romanian Academy Dismisses Moldovan Claim to Own Language

The Romanian Academy of Sciences on Thursday dismissed claims put forward by the President of Moldova in Strasbourg that his country has its own language.

It said the theme of a "Moldovan language" promoted by President Igor Dodon at a speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Wednesday was a revival of Soviet-era tropes.

Kosovo Warns Council of Europe about Russian Rapporteur Candidate

Kosovo's outgoing foreign minister, Behgjet Pacolli, has warned the Council of Europe it will refuse to cooperate with Russian senator Aleksei Kondratev if he is appointed as the rights body's Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur for talks between Belgrade and Pristina.

Reports in Kosovo say Kondratev is in line for the job, drawing swift condemnation from Pacolli via Twitter.

Ionut-Marian Stroe, picked for Minister of Youth and Sports (bio)

On October 24, 2019, Prime Minister-designate Ludovic Orban unveiled the composition of the Cabinet that he will submit to the Parliament for a vote. Ionut-Marian Stroe has been picked for the position of Minister of Youth and Sports. Ionut-Marian Stroe was born on September 23, 1979, in Craiova, according to www.cdep.ro.

Pages