WRITTEN QUESTION P-1287/03 by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission. Macabre electoral farce in Chechnya.
Date: 2003-03-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Russia, electoral fraud, organisation of elections, referendum, war of independence

C 88 E/344

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(23 April 2003)

The Commission has no evidence that the ongoing armed conflict in Iraq would result in a general crisis of
the European tourism sector. It is aware of difficulties increasingly noticed for certain segments of the
tourism industry, in particular big tour operators and their mainstream package travel product. There is,
however, uncertainty as to what extent these phenomena should be attributed to the Iraq conflict, or to
general problems of national economies or rapid changes in tourist consumer preferences and in the way
that tourists appraise and buy the product. The Commission would also not exclude that any potential
impact of the Iraq conflict on the tourist consumer choice could effect certain regional destinations in
Europe more than others. The situation can therefore not be faced with general measures, but would
require a differentiated and fine-tuned response.

Prior to the military intervention in Iraq, the Commission consulted with the European tourism industry
on what measures in respect of tourism the Commission should undertake in the case of such event. It
raised this issue also in the framework of the World Tourism Organisation’s Recovery Committee, early in
March 2003.

The reaction received from tourism professionals indicated that no specific action should be taken as long
as the armed conflict in Iraq was underway. The sector felt that the support they would need during that
time was travel advice, messages that the sector is prepared for the situation, national contingency plans
etc., which however do not fall under Community competence. However, the European tourism industry
and the international sector bodies indicated that significant measures should be envisaged after the
military actions have come to an end. Nevertheless, it also considers that these measures should largely
focus on marketing and promotion of European tourism, which is a sphere for which the Commission had
until now, neither a mandate nor the specific means.

Given the current uncertainty as to how long the armed conflict in Iraq will last, the Commission and the
European tourism industry agreed to look in detail at the issues in due time. However, the Commission
will carefully observe the developments in the tourism industry and is prepared for more careful analysis as
it had done after the 11 September 2001.

(2004/C 88 E/0351)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1287/03

by Olivier Dupuis (NI) to the Commission

(31 March 2003)

Subject: Macabre electoral farce in Chechnya

Several newspapers,
including The Financial Times, Le Monde and Libération, as well as eye-witness
reports, state that the ‘referendum’ organised by the Kremlin on Sunday, 23 March on the adoption of a
new ‘constitution’ by the people of Chechnya (cid:1) and Russian troops (cid:1) was conducted in a completely
irregular manner. According to the Russian authorities, 65 % of the electorate took part in the vote and
95 % of the voters who went to the polling booths voted in favour of the ‘constitution’ proposed by the
Kremlin. However, according to the information gathered by various international correspondents, the
polling stations were equipped with ‘supplementary electoral rolls’ which made all kinds of manipulation
possible, to the extent that a French journalist even managed to add his name to the electoral roll and vote
at polling station No 372. According to the same reports, a bus service was organised to take groups of
‘voters’ from one polling station to another in order to give the impression of a constant flow of voters
and,
the ‘supplementary rolls’ with new voters. Lastly, according to a
representative of the OSCE, who emphasised that he was not there as an observer, the circumstances
surrounding the organisation and conduct of the vote were ‘far from ideal’.

likelihood,

to swell

in all

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/345

Does the Commission consider that the statements by its spokesman, to the effect that the referendum
might represent a firm step towards a political solution that would satisfy the majority of the Chechens,
square with the information which suggests that it was no more than a macabre electoral farce organised
by the Kremlin? Will the Commission rectify without delay the irresponsible statements made by its
spokesman, and clearly indicate to the authorities of the Russian Federation that it cannot be taken in by
such crass behaviour, which is far removed from democratic practices and from the criteria that govern
Russia’s membership of the Council of Europe? Will the Commission take genuine steps to induce Mr Putin
and Mr Maskhadov to negotiate a political solution to the Chechen tragedy?

Answer given by M. Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 April 2003)

According to information provided by the Russian authorities, voter turnout
in the constitutional
referendum, which took place in Chechnya on Sunday 23 March 2003, is estimated at 85 %. The vote in
favour of the draft constitution was 95 %.

The Commission did not monitor the referendum. The Office of Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights (ODIHR) (Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)), which sent an expert team
to the Russian republic at the time of the poll, also concluded in advance that it could not monitor the
referendum on account, inter alia, of the security situation in Chechnya. ODIHR did, however, note that
many inhabitants of Chechnya and internally displaced persons hope that the referendum will lead to a
political process and bring peace and stability.

took place during the vote. The
The Commission is aware of reports of certain irregularities that
Commission, nevertheless, hopes that the referendum may mark a first step towards a political solution to
the Chechnya conflict and to the re-establishment of the rule of law in the republic.

As the Commission’s spokesman stated in the aftermath of the referendum, this can only be achieved, if
serious efforts are taken to address a number of issues, which have been repeatedly raised by the
Commission in the context of the Union’s political dialogue with Russia. The Commission position is that
Russia should pursue a political, inclusive, solution, which must respect Russia’s sovereignty and territorial
integrity. There should be an immediate end to disappearances and human rights violations followed by
those responsible. Russia should also
the thorough,
guarantee that there will be no forced return of internally displaced persons, as well as permit the safe
and effective delivery of humanitarian aid. This position is reflected in discussions on a resolution on
Chechnya at the 59th United Nations Committee on Human Rights (UNCHR), which is now in session in
Geneva.

investigation and prosecution of

independent

The Commission will closely follow developments in the coming months,
in particular the Russian
intention to negotiate a treaty between the federal centre and Chechnya (cid:1) clarifying Chechnya’s status in
the Russian Federation (cid:1) and proposed Presidential and Duma elections for the republic.

(2004/C 88 E/0352)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1290/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(4 April 2003)

Subject: Anti-dumping measures applicable to the import of

ferroalloys;

the problem of

the firm

Ferroatlántica, located in Cee and Dumbria on the Costa da Morte in Galicia

The development of the business of the firm Ferroatlántica, which manufactures ferroalloys and is of
fundamental
is affected by the EU’s
importing these products at dumping prices from countries such as China, Kazakhstan, Russia and
Ukraine. In view of the non-legitimate interests of the steel producers promoting these imports (cid:1) quite

importance for the economy of the Costa da Morte in Galicia,