EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/355

(2004/C 78 E/0374)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0426/03

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(18 February 2003)

Subject: Violation of human rights in Chechnya

With a Council of Europe resolution on Chechnya in view, three international organisations have made a joint statement calling on the Council of Europe to consider the following issues:

— the fact that those responsible for acts of violence against civilians on both sides have not been called to account or brought to justice,

— the practice of both sides in the conflict of making targets of civilians in violation of international humanitarian law,

— the Russian Government's suspension of the OSCE support group in Chechnya on 31 December 2002 and the continued refusal to publish the reports by the European Commission for the Prevention of Torture on the situation in the Russian Federation.

Does the Commission concur with the above statements and what measures will it take towards safeguarding human rights in the region and, in particular, lifting the ban on the access of international observers to Chechnya and putting an end to the lack of transparency surrounding the information available concerning violations?

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.