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ALDE-PACE News

Death notice Mr Ernst Mühlemann

It is with immense sadness that we learned of the death of Mr Ernst Mühlemann (Former Vice-President of the Liberal Group, Switzerland) on Friday, 11 September 2009.

Mr Ernst Mühlemann
Ernst was an outstanding parliamentarian and a talented orator. Always speaking without notes, Ernst was a convincing speaker with an excellent sense of repartee. For his active involvement on the international arena, Ernst received a nickname of « Geheimer Aussenminister der Schweiz » (Unofficial Foreign Minister) in Switzerland. Highlighting his interest in international affairs, a volume of his memoires is entitled « Als Schweizer Parlamentarier an aussenpolitischen Brennpunkten » (A Swiss parliamentarian at the hot spots of the foreign policy). Rapporteur on Russia, Ernst spoke in favour of Russia's accession to the Council of Europe, arguing that Boris Yeltsin's Russia would then succeed in sustaining and consolidating democratic institutions established after the fall of the Soviet Union. All those who had the privilege to meet or work with Ernst Mühlemann acknowledge that he was a personality that one will never forget.

The funeral will take place at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 22 September 2009 in the Church of Ermatingen (Thurgau, Switzerland).
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Mr Mühlemann was member of the Liberal Group from 1992 to 2000. During his career at the Council of Europe, he presented reports on: "Russia's request for membership in the light of the situation in Chechnya" (Doc. 7230, 30 January 1995); "Developments in the Russian Federation in relation to the situation in Chechnya" (Doc. 7531, 23 April 1996) and "Russia's request for membership of the Council of Europe" (Doc. 7443, 2 January 1996).