Gorbachev Says Russia Should Think Twice Before Leaving Council of Europe

Former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev said that Russia should not leave the Council of Europe just now, and has to find another options in order to further cooperate with Europe.

MOSCOW, January 30 (Sputnik) — Former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev said Friday that Russia should not hurry to leave the Council of Europe and search for means of cooperation.

On Wednesday, the head of the Russian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said that Moscow will decide on its membership in the Council of Europe by the end of 2015 after PACE elected not to restore Russia's voting rights in the organization until its April session due to the country's alleged role in the Ukrainian conflict.

“Let’s not hurry, let’s think. We must stop and think, and then start talking and finally find options for further cooperation in all forms, including in security, culture, economy,” Gorbachev told RIA Novosti.

Gorbachev noted that he originally proposed the “all-European house” idea.

“Europe is our common property, our common house. Europe is the all-European home, and not the war field,” Gorbachev said

PACE first suspended the Russian delegation voting rights in spring 2014 in response to Crimea's reunification with Russia. In protest, the Russian delegation walked out of the PACE spring 2014 session and skipped the summer session.