Parliamentary questions
by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the
Commission
(07 February 2003)
Subject: Violation of human rights in Chechnya
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E-0426/03EN
Answer given by Mr Patten
on behalf of the Commission
(19 March 2003)
The Commission is concerned
at the current situation in the north Caucasus. There are continued reports
of human rights abuses in Chechnya and reprisals against civilians by
Russian armed forces and their Chechen allies, as well as rebels.
The Commission underlines
that the implementation of shared values in the fields of democracy and human
rights underpin the Union-Russia Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation and
are central elements in the Union-Russia partnership. The Commission promotes
respect for human rights and democracy in Russia through a number of projects
that are financed under the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights.
These activities are implemented in cooperation with civil society and
international organisations. The Tacis programme is also active in this domain.
In the north Caucasus,
there is a specific joint programme between the Commission and the Council of
Europe to promote pluralist democracy and the rule of law.
The Commission will
continue to raise the issue of respect for human rights within the framework of
the Union’s bilateral political dialogue with Russia. While the Commission
condemns terrorism in all its forms, it
will continue to press Russia to investigate all allegations of human rights
abuses in a prompt, independent and impartial manner. Those responsible should be prosecuted. The Commission also hopes that Russia
will permit publication of the Council of Europe report on torture in Chechnya
and allow the United Nations’ rapporteurs on torture and on summary executions
to report on the situation.
The Commission regrets
Russia’s decision not to extend the mandate of the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Assistance Group. The Commission believes that
it is in the interest of Russia to maintain a continued OSCE field
presence in Chechnya with a meaningful
mandate. It therefore supports the
Dutch OSCE chairman in office’s attempts to engage Russia to make progress on
this matter.