The Council of Europe is set to open the summer session of its Parliamentary Assembly tomorrow in Strasbourg, where it will host Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky for the signing of the foundation of the Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Malta is currently chairing the Council of Europe and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg inaugurated the Summer session earlier today with an opening speech. Prime Minister Robert Abela is also expected to attend the session tomorrow.
The Special Tribunal will collaborate with the International Criminal Court to bring Russian perpetrators of war crimes in Ukraine to justice. Russian President Vladimir Putin has a pending arrest warrant against him for crimes against humanity in Ukraine namely over the abduction of Ukrainian children and their transfer to Russia where they are adopted by Russian families and sent to re-indoctrination camps.
In his opening statement to the Council’s session, Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg applauded the creation of the Special Tribunal and stated that the Council’s Presidency is treating it as a top priority. On Israel and Palestine, the Foreign Minister also highlighted that Council of Europe is equally appalled both at the attacks of October 7th and the ongoing suffering of the people in Gaza.
Malta took over the Presidency of the Council of Europe in May this year.
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