We fully support the call for an open investigation, and I have officially asked the Russian Federation authorities for full and transparent clarification. And above all there is the need for a political solution of the Chechen crisis. The CoE also urges international humanitarian organisations to go to Chechnya with substantial help for the population. The Council of Europe's expansion is drawing to a close. Your work must sometimes feel like juggling 43 plates all at the same time, or putting out a forest fire.
New members mean, of course, new tasks and new challenges.
Belarus's application is frozen. Belarus is, due to undemocratic developments, a different and sad case. The special guest status of the Belarus parliament has been suspended. This makes clear that minimum standards have to be achieved for membership. They apply not just to applicant countries but also to existing member states.