WRITTEN QUESTION E-1274/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Denunciation of Russian atrocities in Chechnya.
Date: 2000-04-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, human rights, settlement of disputes, the EU's international role, war of independence

C 81 E/24

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Reply

(29 September 2000)

The Council discussed the situation in Mozambique on 20 March. It had followed closely and with great
concern the situation in Mozambique and expressed its solidarity with the people and Government of
Mozambique and other countries in the region as they grappled with the devastating consequences of the
flooding and its sympathy with them as they set about rebuilding their lives.

The Council recognised the broader impact this catastrophe was likely to have on Mozambique(cid:146)s economy.
It endorsed the Mozambique Government(cid:146)s twin-track approach aiming at meeting needs for relief while
working to rehabilitate affected areas and to ensure both macro-economic stability and maintenance of on-
going assistance.

To this end virtually all
the Member States and the Commission participated in the International
Reconstruction Conference for Mozambique hosted by the Government of Italy in Rome from 3 to 4 May
and convened by the Government of Mozambique in collaboration with the United Nations.

This Conference was a great success, meeting its target of $ 450 million, in large part because of the active
and positive contribution of the Community and the Member States who together pledged € 228,5 million,
representing approximately half of the total of € 495 million.

It is proposed that the Community aid include funds for flood protection and urban roads in Gaza
province as well as budget support for the Reconstruction Programme and funds for projects for transport,
rural telecommunications, basic social services, rural production and de-mining.

These funds are in addition to the € 100 million disbursed in 1999 in Mozambique under the Commu-
nity(cid:146)s cooperation programme and up to € 150 million are expected to be disbursed in 2000.

The Council will continue to follow the situation in Mozambique closely.

(2001/C 81 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1274/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: Denunciation of Russian atrocities in Chechnya

(27 April 2000)

Press reports of 30 March indicated that Amnesty International, in agreement with its Russian branch and
using the testimony of survivors as its basis, recently denounced summary executions, torture, rape of
women and men and indiscriminate bombing of civilians and refugees in Chechnya, comparing the current
levels of repression with the worst of the Stalin era.

Is the European Union aware of these accusations, and does it endorse them? What specific action is it
seeking to undertake to put an end to this tragic situation?

Reply

(29 September 2000)

The Council is fully aware of the accusations made by Amnesty International, and regards them with all
due gravity. The Presidency has received a letter from a group of 29 NGOs, headed by Amnesty
International that presents a detailed list of alleged human rights abuses committed in Chechnya by
Russian forces. The Presidency responded to the NGO coalition on behalf of all Member States on 17 May
2000. A copy of the original letter and the Presidency reply are joined to this answer.

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/25

As underlined in answers to previous parliamentary questions, the Council and Member States of the
Union have acted decisively on a number of fronts in order to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the
conflict. The Council has also been constantly forthright in condemning the alleged human rights abuses in
Chechnya.

In the Council of Europe, when Ireland was the Chair in Office, Ministers met with Foreign Minister Ivanov
to present their concerns. They continue to follow developments in Chechnya with the closest attention,
and in June will report to the part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly, as requested in paragraph 24 of
the EU proposed a
Recommendation 1456.
resolution on Chechnya that was adopted in the 56th session on 25 April 2000. The EU has again raised
the subject of Chechnya at its summit with Russia on 29 May.

In the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva,

Such concerted pressure may be seen to have yielded some demonstrable results. In a statement made on
13 April 2000, President Putin undertook that (cid:145)all facts of violations of human rights and abuses in the
course of the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasian region of the Russian Federation, whoever
commits them, are thoroughly investigated and, if confirmed, all the rigours of the law will be applied to
the guilty(cid:146). Access to the region has been granted to international visitors, including the fact-finding visits
to Chechnya by EU ambassadors to Moscow and an ECHO assessment team. The State Duma of the
Russian Federation has created a Commission on Human Rights, Displaced Persons and the Normalisation
of Social, Political and Economic Situation in the Chechen Republic. Also, on 17 April 2000, the creation
was announced of a National Public Commission for Investigating Crimes and Monitoring Human Rights
in the North Caucasus, chaired by the former Minister of Justice, Mr Krascheninnikov, and supported by
President Putin.

these positive developments,

In spite of
there are no grounds for complacency. The international
community faces difficult challenges such as achieving implementation of the commitments made by
Russia, preventing the spread of conflict to neighbouring areas, and ensuring regional stability. To this end,
the EU and its Member States are cooperating fully with the OSCE, of which Austria is the Chair in Office.
For as long as it may take, the Council will continue to press determinedly for a durable and equitable
settlement in Chechnya.

(2001/C 81 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1297/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council

(27 April 2000)

Subject: Withdrawal of (cid:145)Schengen-type(cid:146) visa from Mr Rakhimov

In March 1998, following the publication of reports in sections of the Danish, French, English and Russian
media of false information alleging that he was connected with criminal organisations involved in drugs
trafficking, Mr Gafur-Arslanbek Rakhimov, an Uzbek businessman, had his (cid:145)Schengen-type(cid:146) visa withdrawn,
despite the fact that the secretariat of the file monitoring commission of IOC-Interpol, when approached
by the (cid:145)Committee for the Protection of Human Rights in Uzbekistan(cid:146) (Uzbek branch of the International
Society for Human Rights) has stated that it holds no information to back up the accusations that have
been made, and that the Russian authorities had also indicated to them that they held no information on
the individual in question.

Can the Council say on what grounds the decision to withdraw the visa was taken? Will it also check that
the decision was taken in accordance with the principles that govern the withdrawal procedure for
(cid:145)Schengen-type(cid:146) visas(cid:146)? If this is not the case, will the Council undertake to act to reinstate Mr Rakhimov(cid:146)s
(cid:145)Schengen-type(cid:146) visa?