Minutes:
The Mayor had given her consent to the Motion below, which was submitted by Cllr Gillham, being dealt with as a matter of urgency under Standing Order 15.3 in view of the emerging situation in Ukraine.
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Cllr Gillham moved that:
Runnymede Borough Council expresses its support for the Declaration adopted on 28 February 2022 by the Bureau of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on the situation in Ukraine as set out below:
CG-BUR(2022)44-22
The Bureau of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities the Council of Europe, held anextraordinary meetingon 28 February2022 and adoptedthe following Declaration:
TheBureau,
1. condemns in the strongest terms, the armed attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation,which constitutesa blatantbreach of internationallaw andthe Statuteof theCouncil ofEurope;
2. urges theRussian Federationto immediatelyand unconditionallycease itsmilitary operations inUkraine andwithdraw itstroops;
3. deplores loss oflife, humansuffering anddestruction causedby theRussian aggressionand expressesits supportto Ukraineand itssolidarity with itspeople;
4. condemns the recognitionby theRussian Federationof theUkrainian oblastsof Donetskand Luhanskas independententities and theprevious annexationof Crimea;
5. expresses its unwavering commitmentto the independence, sovereigntyand territorial integrityof Ukraine withinits internationally recognised borders;
6. underlines the fundamental role of the Council of Europe, as an organisation founded in the aftermath of the Second World War, to defend human rights, democracy and the rule of law inEurope, and ensurethe peaceful coexistenceof nationsin Europe;
7. recalls, in this respect, that the aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve a greater unitybetween its members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles whichare theircommon heritageand facilitatingtheir economicand social progress;
8. stresses that the armed attack on Ukraine by the Russian Federation constitutes an attackon the principles and values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law which the Council ofEurope standsfor, promotesand defends;and thatthis warmakes itimpossible forlocal authorities inUkraine tooperate andinflicts serioussuffering onthe Ukrainianpeople;
9. underlinesthe roleof theCongress incontributing tothe aimand objectivesof theCouncil of Europe and in building up local and regional democracy, the values of which are deeply rooted inthe Ukrainiannation, identityand institutions;
10. calls for the Russian Federation to respect its obligations under the Statute and underinternational law;
11. considers that itis impossibleto co-operatewith theRussian delegationin theCongress until the territorial integrity ofUkraine is restored;
12. welcomes the Committee of Ministers’ decision of25 February2022 tosuspend theRussian Federation from its rights of representation in the Council of Europe in accordance with Article 8 ofthe Statute of the Council of Europe and calls on the Committee of Ministers to take the necessaryadditional decisionsas soonas possible so thatthe suspension also applies tothe Congress;
The Bureau stresses that democracy, multilevel governance and human rights are stronger thanwar, stands firmly by Ukraine and its people, and calls on all local and regional communities ofEurope, and beyond, to stay united and determined in their solidarity with the Ukrainian nation, itspeople andits authorities.
The Motion was unanimously supported and many Members spoke in support of the people of Ukraine and mentioned personal contacts they had with Ukrainian nationals.
The Motion was unanimously supported and it was
Unanimously Resolved that-
The Council expresses its support for the above-mentioned Declaration