11 сентября 2007 Года
September 11, 2007. RUSSIA’S MARGELOV MAY BECOME NEXT PACE PRESIDENT
 The chairman of the Federation Council’s Foreign Relations Committee, Mikhail Margelov, announced today that he intends to run for the post of president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) during its voting session in January of 2008.
During January of this year, PACE General Secretary Terry Davis announced that Margelov could very well become the body’s next president. This would be the first time in history that the post would be occupied by a representative of Russia.
Margelov commented that the president of PACE is elected in turn by the body’s various factions. “Next year it will be the turn of the largest faction, the European Democrats. I currently have the honor of being its head,” added Margelov.
Speaking of PACE, Margelov emphasized its positive role in developing democratic institutions and human rights in Europe. “If I am elected, my main goal will be to continue these traditions,” Margelov stated.
Margelov also added that all European countries are currently experiencing some problems with democratic development and human rights and warned against maintaining double standards on these issues. He promised to continue pushing for Russia’s ratification of protocols 6 and 14 of the European Convention, which would outlaw the death penalty in Russia.
Translated by Artem V. Zagorodnov
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