WRITTEN QUESTION E-0705/03 by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission. Chechnya: Russian troops blowing up civilians.
Date: 2003-03-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Russia, civilian victim, democracy, human rights, international relations, political cooperation, political violence, refugee, war of independence

C 58 E/24

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2003)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to its reply to Written Questions E-0454/03 by
Mr Watson (1), concerning the persecution of Christians in Vietnam and E-0549/03 by Mrs Ludford (2).

The Commission, together with the Member States represented in Vietnam, monitors closely human rights
developments in Vietnam, including individual cases of concern and issues related to freedom of religion
and freedom of opinion, as part of the policy of the Union to encourage and support the continued
commitment of the Government of Vietnam to progress in the field of human rights. The Commission also
participates with the Member States in regular dialogue with and in all démarches to the Government of
Vietnam on human rights issues. Moreover, the Member States as members and the Union as observer
fully support the work of the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights and actively
work with the UN Commission for Human Rights.

The Commission and Member States have repeatedly urged the Government of Vietnam to strengthen its
respect for political and religious freedoms, as well as further strengthen economic and social freedoms.
They again expressed this request recently in their joint declaration at the Consultative Group meeting in
Hanoi in December 2002.

The Commission, together with the representatives of the Member States, will continue to follow closely
the human rights situation in Vietnam, to raise specific concerns with the Government of Vietnam and
take appropriate action.

(1) See page 18.
(2) See page 20.

(2004/C 58 E/026)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0705/03

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(10 March 2003)

Subject: Chechnya: Russian troops blowing up civilians

Various independent Russian sources indicate that military and paramilitary troops carried out combing
(‘zachistka’) operations in the Chechnya town of Argoun at the beginning of January, arresting 100
individuals. Several days later, 18 corpses were thrown from the building which houses the Russian
control post. 32 people have disappeared. All the other individuals arrested, with six exceptions, were
released after paying ransoms and being subjected to torture and ill treatment. The six who were not
released were taken to the banks of the Argoun river, where sticks of dynamite were attached to their
bodies. They were then ‘blown up’.

At the same time, the Russians have dismantled the refugee camps in Ingushetia and sent the refugees into
Chechnya, where they risk persecution and where both their freedom and lives are in danger as long as the
international community fails to oblige the Russian Federation to put an end to the atrocities being
perpetrated and open serious negotiations with President Maskhadov’s legitimate government on the future
status of Chechnya.

What information does the Commission have concerning the absolutely unspeakable crimes perpetrated by
military and paramilitary troops in the town of Argoun and how has it reacted to these crimes? What
political and diplomatic initiatives does the Commission intend to take in response to the Russian policy of
dismantling refugee camps in Ingushetia and thus forcing Chechen refugees to return to Chechnya on the
one hand, and on the other, organising criminal military operations like those in Argoun? Could the
Commission draw up a proposal for joint action with the objective of implementing an emergency plan (cid:1)
along the lines of those implemented in Bosnia and Kosovo (cid:1) to take in all the Chechen refugees whose
lives and physical integrity are at risk if they return to Chechnya?

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/25

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2003)

Although the Commission does not have details of this specific case, it is aware of allegations of significant
human rights violations committed by Russian servicemen in Chechnya. There can be no justification for
the abuse of human rights and the Commission calls for all allegations to be forwarded to the relevant
Russian authorities for investigation by both military and civilian prosecutors, in order to dispel any notion
of impunity. The findings of all such investigations should be public.

Shared values in the fields of democracy and human rights underpin the EU-Russia relationship and its
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in particular. The Commission has in the past repeatedly raised
this matter within the framework of the Union’s bilateral political dialogue with the Russian Federation
and it will continue to do so. The Commission also supports raising these issues at the forthcoming United
Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

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 such as the Council of
Europe. The Tacis programme is also active in this domain.

The Commission considers that the return of internally displaced persons to Chechnya should take place
on a strictly voluntary basis. Those who wish to remain in Ingushetia should be allowed to do so. In
December 2002, the Russian authorities summarily closed the Aki-Yurt camp for internally displaced
persons in Ingushetia. After Union political pressure was brought to bear, the Russian authorities gave
assurances that there would be a moratorium on the closure of camps. The Commission (cid:1) as the major
provider of humanitarian aid to the region (cid:1) will monitor developments closely.

The Commission considers that a military solution will not by itself provide stability and lasting peace for
the north Caucasus or address the root causes of the conflict. All avenues for a political solution,
respecting Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, should be explored. In this regard, the Commission
believes that
is in the interest of Russia to maintain a continued Organisation on Security and
Cooperation in Europe field presence in Chechnya with a meaningful mandate. The Commission is closely
following Russian preparations for the constitutional referendum which Russia intends to hold on
23 March 2003.

it

(2004/C 58 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0718/03

by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

Subject:

‘Prestige’: re-routing of maritime transport corridors

(11 March 2003)

On 21 November 2002, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the ‘Prestige’ disaster off the
coast of Galicia. Paragraph 12 reads:

Calls for the existing corridors for the maritime transport of oil and hazardous substances in
Community waters to be rerouted as far away as possible from coastlines and, in particular, areas
declared vulnerable; asks the Commission to work with the IMO towards the establishment of such a
mechanism at international level.

How does the Commission view this request from Parliament?

What steps has it taken or does it intend to take in response?