STRASBOURG, September 29 (RIA Novosti) – The PACE Bureau, which is responsible for the coordination of activities at the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, is to hold debates on the Ukraine crisis and Islamic State (IS) violence during its fall session, an Assembly member told RIA Novosti on the heels of the bureau's meeting Monday.
According to the source, the crisis will be discussed within the framework of the current debates. The assembly is not expected to adopt a final resolution. European Parliament member Stefan Schennach from Austria has been chosen to deliver a report on the topic.
The Bureau has previously decided to meet over the growing IS insurgency threat, which will be tackled as part of an urgent debate on the group's violence against Christians and other religious communities. A reporter is yet to be appointed.
The Russian delegation has skipped the ongoing PACE session due to the split with the West, after the assembly agreed in April to curb Russia voting rights following the conflict in Ukraine and Crimea's reunification with Russia. In spring, Moscow officially informed PACE about its decision to halt bilateral cooperation and bowed out of the summer session.
PACE's fall session is underway in Strasbourg and will end on October 3. It is the second session that has seen PACE members discussing the fate of Ukraine without the regional heavyweight's presence.
