WRITTEN QUESTION E-3369/02

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(27 November 2002)

Subject: Forced repatriation and the safety of humanitarian workers in Chechnya

In an interview with Reuters broadcast on Radio Liberty, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson, stated that the Russian authorities must put an end to the practice of the forced repatriation of refugees to Chechnya. During the interview, the Commissioner also emphasised the need to take measures to guarantee the safety of the staff of the humanitarian organisations working in the Northern Caucuses, who risk their lives and face enormous difficulties every day.

Can these statements be interpreted as a U-turn in the approach adopted by Commissioner Nielson and the Commission as a whole to the Chechen tragedy, and as indicating a new desire to take action to put a stop to the extremely serious violations of fundamental rights being committed in Chechnya?

Moreover, is Commissioner Nielson aware that the Geneva Convention categorically prohibits forced repatriation, and that if the Russian authorities do not put an end to this practice it will be the Commission's duty to bring proceedings against them before the competent international courts?

As regards the safety of the staff of humanitarian organisations operating in Chechnya, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid has not visited Chechnya in person since the outbreak of the second Chechen war three years ago. Does he not feel that this might be interpreted as reflecting a lack of will on the part of the Commission to ensure the safety of the staff of humanitarian organisations operating there, and that the only way to remedy this would be for him to make an extensive visit (and not one orchestrated by the authorities in Moscow) to Chechnya as soon as possible, so that he can see the situation at first hand?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2003)

The Commissioner responsible for Development and Humanitarian Aid has recently expressed his deep concern regarding the threat to close the camps for displaced people in Ingushetia on two separate occasions. He gave an interview to Reuters on 14 November 2002 and released a statement to the press on 27 November 2002.

These statements can in no way be interpreted as a U-turn in the approach adopted by Commissioner Nielson or the Commission as a whole. Through its humanitarian aid office (ECHO), the Commission has always paid close attention to the Chechen conflict and the resulting humanitarian tragedy.

It should not be forgotten that the Commission remains the biggest humanitarian aid donor in the Northern Caucasus. Through ECHO, it has allocated more than EUR 90 million in aid for the victims of the fighting since the onset of the latest conflict in the autumn of 1999.

The Commission is extremely concerned about the scale of the human rights violations in Chechnya and the continual violation of international humanitarian law for the protection of civilians. It is clear that there is no political justification for the current situation, and all states are bound by international law to respect fundamental humanitarian rights laid down in the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols, of which Russia is a party.

This is why Commissioner Nielson spoke for a second time to ask the Russian authorities not to close the Aki Yurt camp, which houses more than 1 700 people, and to remind them that forced repatriation constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. Unfortunately, representations made by the European Union and the Commission to the Russian authorities have come to nothing. The Commission will, however, continue in its efforts to prevent the Russian authorities from closing other camps. A very clear message to this effect has been relayed to Mr Igor Ivanov, minister for foreign affairs and Mr Vladimir Chizov, deputy foreign minister. On 16 December 2002 the Troika of the EU met the Russian federal minister, Mr Stanislav Iiyasov, who is in charge of reconstruction in Chechnya, in order to raise this issue.

The issue of the safety of humanitarian personnel is central to the problem of humanitarian aid in Chechnya and is an issue constantly raised by the Commission. The Commissioner in charge of Development and Humanitarian Aid travelled to Chechnya twice in 2000 to underline the importance of this issue to the Commission. Since that time, the question of access and the multiple obstacles the Russian authorities put in the path of humanitarian organisations on the ground has been at the centre of discussions between the EU and Russia. The Director of ECHO raised the question during her mission to Chechnya in March 2001, as did the Head of Unit responsible for Chechnya at ECHO who also went to Grozny in May 2002, accompanied by the head of delegation. These problems were also discussed more recently at the EU-Russia summit, the meeting in Moscow between the EU Commissioner in charge of External Relations and Russia's foreign affairs minister in October 2002, and the latest Cooperation Committee meeting with Russia held in Brussels. The issue is constantly raised by the Head of Delegation to the Commission in Moscow and by ECHO.

It is also clear that this situation calls for adoption of a political position by the European Union. In addition to the action that can be taken at Commission level, the Council and Parliament also have an important role to play in denouncing the large-scale and repeated violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.

Meanwhile, the Commission will ensure that the European Union will continue to monitor the issue of human rights in Chechnya and will raise the problem in all appropriate forums, such as the bilateral political dialogue with the Russian Federation, and the discussions and initiatives concerning Chechnya within the Council of Europe and the OECD.