Council of Europe Alain Berset: "I experienced multiple air strikes in Ukraine"
As Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset is involved in conflict regions such as Georgia and Ukraine. He has already visited the latter three times within a year, as he said in an interview with Blick.
28.12.2024, 05:29
SDA
"I have experienced air raid alerts several times, during the day and at night," said Berset. In view of the discussion in Switzerland about protection status S, which should apply exclusively to Ukrainians from affected war regions, he said: "The whole country is involved in a war against the nuclear power Russia. The whole country, not just part of it. There are no safe areas in Ukraine at the moment." The approximately 100 employees of the Council of Europe office in Kiev are also confronted with the horrors of war on a daily basis.
Berset emphasized the need for a legal investigation into all war crimes. To this end, the Council of Europe has set up a register of damage, which already contains over 13,000 entries. This should later serve as the basis for reparations. However, Berset admitted that the question of funding was still open. There are many frozen assets throughout Europe, but this discussion is likely to be difficult.
Berset focused on Ukraine and human rights
Alain Berset took office as Secretary General of the Council of Europe on September 18. In his first public speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, he outlined his vision for his new role. He focused on human rights, Ukraine, democracy and Europe.
Russia must be held accountable for its crimes in Ukraine following the military invasion, Berset emphasized to the parliamentarians of the Council of Europe at the time. Europe would support Ukraine in preserving its freedom and independence as well as in its reconstruction.
Russia's representatives were not present in Strasbourg, as the aggressor had been expelled from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia's membership of the Council of Europe was finally withdrawn in March 2022.
