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(2004/C 84 E/0038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2680/03

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Council

(10 September 2003)

Subject:   Setting up a United Nations Interim Administration in Chechnya

An ambitious report (An Agenda for Renewal: US-Russian Relations), published by the Carnegie Endowment (USA) in 2000, states that ‘there is no solution’ to the conflict in Chechnya, because a withdrawal of Russian troops, allegedly the only way to stop the war, would be tantamount to victory for the Chechen radical nationalists and the international mujahedin, a scenario that is ‘not in the United States’ interests' and that ‘would be appalling for all the north Caucasian peoples’. In other words, both President Putin and some pro-democracy think tanks claim that Russia has no choice but to continue its genocidai war in Chechnya. A withdrawal by Russian troops would, in the view of both parties, be seen as a victory for Chechen forces and lead to the transformation of Chechnya into a ‘base’ for Chechen nationalists and international terrorism. There is, however, an alternative to these false alternatives. On 15 March 2003, Ilyas Akhmadov, the Chechen Foreign Minister, presented a new peace plan, under which a United Nations Interim Administration would be set up in Chechnya, a proposal that was sent to the foreign ministers of the EU Member States and applicant countries, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the Commissioner for external relations, Chris Patten. Moreover, during a programme recently broadcast by the Moscow radio station Echo Moskvy dealing with the issue of setting up a United Nations Interim Administration in Chechnya, 75 % of those who expressed their opinion were in favour of Mr Akhmadov's solution. Although not a scientific poll, it is a new and undeniably significant indication of the Russian people's feelings on this subject.

What is the Council's evaluation of the peace plan put forward by the Chechen Foreign Minister proposing that a United Nations Interim Administration be set up in Chechnya? Does the Council share the opinion of President Putin and some think tanks that the only alternative to the ongoing genocidai war would be the creation in Chechnya of a base for Chechen extremists and international terrorism? Does the Council not think that a UN Interim Administration, like the one in Kosovo, could establish democracy and the rule of law in the space of a few years and, as a result, help create a more effective antidote to any potential drift towards extremism?

Reply

(8 March 2004)

The Council is not aware of the details of the peace plan put forward by the ‘Chechen Foreign Minister’ proposing that a United Nations Interim Administration be set up in Chechnya.

The Council is much concerned by the situation in Chechnya and raises the need for a genuine reconciliation regularly when meeting the Russian authorities. The Council believes in a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Chechnya through the restoration of the rule of law and the full respect of human rights.

The Council has several times encouraged the Russian authorities, along with international organisations, to develop and implement a political settlement process in Chechnya.

On 8 October last the Presidency, on behalf of the EU, issued a declaration on the presidential elections in Chechnya in which it expressed its serious doubts regarding the fairness of the electoral process and the conditions in which these elections were held.

The Union intends to continue to make known its concerns to the Russian authorities in relation to the situation in Chechnya.

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