WRITTEN QUESTION E-1041/01 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Discovery of mass graves and disappearance of civilians in Chechnya.
Date: 2001-04-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, civil war, crime against humanity, human rights, the EU's international role

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/35

5. As far as the Union(cid:146)s support for a negotiated settlement of the Kashmir issue is concerned, the
Council would like to refer the Honourable MEP to its reply to Oral Question H-0375/2001 by Brian
Crowley MEP during Question Time in May 2001, a copy of which is annexed to the present answer.

(2001/C 364 E/039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1041/01

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

(3 April 2001)

Subject: Discovery of mass graves and disappearance of civilians in Chechnya

Humanitarian organisations such as Human Rights Watch have protested against the disappearance of
civilians and the existence of mass graves containing hundreds of bodies in Chechnya as a consequence of
the war started by Russia. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, `lvaro Gil-Robles,
recently visited Moscow and protested to the Russian authorities at the impunity enjoyed by Russian forces
in the face of these atrocities.

What action is the Council currently taking with a view to ensuring that these dreadful occurrences are
stopped and promoting a political solution to the war which recognises the national freedom of the
Chechen people?

Reply

(27 September 2001)

The EU has spoken out steadfastly against all attacks on human rights and dignity in Chechnya, whoever
may be the authors. While recognising the difficulties Russia faces in Chechnya,
the EU has been
particularly vocal in criticising the Russian government for its role in the Chechen republic of its country.
Time and again, the EU has raised this issue at the very highest level with the Russian authorities. It was
brought up in Stockholm on 23 March, at the meeting between the European Council and President Putin,
and again at
in Luxembourg on 10 April. The Presidency also
addressed the issue at the Summit with President Putin in Moscow on 17 May.

the EU-Russia Cooperation Council

Ever since the beginning of the conflict, the EU has given its full support to both the Council of Europe
(CoE) and the OSCE Assistance Group. The EU recognises that these institutions can play a certain role in
improving the human rights situation in Chechnya, including by helping to investigate all the cases of
missing persons that have been reported. The EU therefore welcomed the visit of Mr Gil-Robles to
Moscow. The EU welcomed the setting up of a joint working group between the offices of the Russian
Prosecutor General, the Chechen Prosecutor, and that of Mr Kalamanov, Russian Presidential Special
Representative for human rights in Chechnya, assisted by CoE experts.

The EU has consistently adopted an outspoken and principled stand, at no small cost to its immediate
relations with Russia. This position has been fully in line with the EU(cid:146)s general stance on human rights, as
laid out in the resolution presented to the 2000 session of the UN Commission on Human Rights (2000/
58), enumerating and condemning, clearly and comprehensively, the various violations of human rights
and humanitarian law committed in Chechnya. In the context of this year(cid:146)s session of the Commission, the
EU again strove to reach agreement with Russia on a joint Chairman(cid:146)s statement concerning the situation
in Chechnya. These efforts were not ultimately successful, however, and instead a resolution was passed
(2001/24). Nonetheless, concessions made by the Russian authorities in the course of negotiations show
that Russia is increasingly prepared to acknowledge its failings and to cooperate with the international
community.

C 364 E/36

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

It remains the firm and considered conviction of the Council that engagement is the best path by which
the EU may work to improve the situation in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation. Without
dialogue there would be no way for us to impress on Russia that
its international
commitments. It is only through this same dialogue with Russia that practical progress can be made on
humanitarian aid and the protection of human rights in the interests of the people of Chechnya.

it must

fulfil

The Council believes that the fact that Russia has been taking steps in the right direction (cid:129) albeit belatedly
and not going far enough (cid:129) vindicates this approach. During his visit to Moscow, Mr Gil-Robles did note
some positive developments, notably strengthened political will
in Russia to move forward in
Chechnya with democratic construction, rebuilding, establishing peace and seeking political solutions.
The work of Mr Kalamanov(cid:146)s office, involving collaborators from the Council of Europe, the establishment
of civilian courts,
indictments for human rights violations and the adoption of a few
reconstruction measures are a start, even if still too little. However, the Council will continue to press
the Russian authorities to bring to justice all those responsible for human rights violations.

the first

(2001/C 364 E/040)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1044/01

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

(3 April 2001)

Subject: Oppression of women in Afghanistan and the need for European Union humanitarian intervention

Does the Council not believe that
there is an increasing need for European Union humanitarian
intervention in Afghanistan to end the terrible oppression being suffered by women at the hands of the
country(cid:146)s regime, thus responding as part of the international community in the face of this genocide?
What new and effective action will it take?

Reply

(27 September 2001)

In reply to various oral and written questions over the past weeks and months, the Council has on several
occasions informed the European Parliament of its position concerning various aspects of the Afghan
problems, and in particular of action taken in respect to the humanitarian crisis and regarding the
alleviation of suffering of Afghan women. In the absence of particular new developments, the Council
therefore invites the Honourable MEP to revert to the replies given to Questions E-0088/2001, H-0032/
2001, H-0052/2001 and H-0170/2001, the texts of which will be sent as an annex.

(2001/C 364 E/041)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1045/01

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

(3 April 2001)

Subject: Measures presented by the United Kingdom to reduce the flow of refugees and immigrants into the

European Union

The measures presented by the United Kingdom at the meeting of the Council of Ministers for Justice and
Home Affairs in February 2001 with a view to reducing the flow of refugees and immigrants into the
European Union, including a proposal to reform the United Nations Charter on Refugees, contradict the
Union(cid:146)s objective needs and political and economic capacity. What stage has been reached in the Council(cid:146)s
handling of these proposals?