(The sitting was suspended at 11.35 and resumed at 12.00.)

IN THE CHAIR: Hans-Gert PÖTTERING
President

6. Welcome

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On behalf of Parliament, the President welcomed Garry Kasparov, who had taken a seat in the distinguished visitors' gallery.

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Kyriacos Triantaphyllides called on the President to condemn the previous day's arrest by the Israeli authorities of several elected Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, including a minister in the Abbas Government (the President replied that he was due to visit the region that coming Sunday).