The Council of Europe supports Ukraine in the investigation of the destruction of the Russian war of aggression.
The leaders of the member states of the Council of Europe have discussed the challenges related to human rights, the principles of the rule of law and democracy at the summit held in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Among other things, the Council sealed the decision to establish an international damage register in The Hague, Holland. The purpose is to document the destruction caused by the Russian war of aggression, with possible compensation in mind. The president of the Republic Sauli Niinistö considered the register to be the most important result:
– Strong emotional support for Ukraine is the message. Let’s give public confirmation that such damage repair is an essential element. And for that, such a register is needed, in order to see what damages have occurred.
Forty countries signed the statement on the damage register, six countries did not. These countries were Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Turkey and Hungary.
According to Niinistö, the result is still significant and speaks well of the work of the Council of Europe.
– Each of these six countries may have a slightly different reason for not signing that signature, at least for now.
Niinistö said that the idea of using funds frozen from Russia to compensate for damages has been discussed.
– No one has developed an indisputable answer yet, but the effort in that direction is serious and in my opinion worthwhile, said Niinistö, who emphasized that the project’s legal issues require consideration.
Niinistö also commented on the information that Russia has frozen the funds of the Finnish embassy. According to Niinistö, the decision came to light at the end of April, and other western countries have had similar difficulties.
Niinistö negotiated on Wednesday e.g. the president of Poland, Andrzej Dudan with, among other things, the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius in July.
– We both stated that it is extremely important that Sweden be a NATO member in Vilnius. And if not, at least a strong emphasis on it. I’m also going to work in the meantime.