WRITTEN QUESTION P-1063/04 by Marie-Françoise Duthu (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Russo-Chechen conflict — mediation by the European Union between the governments of Vladimir Putin and Aslan Maskhadov.
Date: 2004-03-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Russia, civil war, democracy, human rights, political violence, rule of law, the EU's international role

C 84 E/938

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

With regard to the economic impact of this enlargement on the labour market, the Commission believes
that the Union must make the most of the positive effect of enlargement on Europe’s economy (2).
Moreover, the Commission Communication on immigration, integration and employment (3) highlighted
the positive contribution which immigration has made to economic growth and employment in the EU
and pointed out
immigration would lead to an increase in
unemployment. The Commission believes that labour mobility within the EU and taking greater advantage
of the potential offered by immigration are crucial
issues for EU competitiveness and achieving the
objectives of the Lisbon agenda.

there was little evidence that

that

(1)

‘The Impact of Eastern Enlargement on Employment and Labour Markets in the EU Member States’ and its
‘Potential Migration from Central and Eastern Europe into the EU-15 (cid:1) An Update’. The study and its
update,
update are available at the following address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/employment_analysis/
impact_en.htm
(2) COM(2004) 29 final.
(3) COM(2003) 336 final.

(2004/C 84 E/1036)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1063/04

by Marie-Françoise Duthu (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(30 March 2004)

Subject: Russo-Chechen conflict (cid:1) mediation by the European Union between the governments of

Vladimir Putin and Aslan Maskhadov

Since 1994, Chechnya has been ravaged by two wars of exceptional violence. According to the most
recent estimates, one fifth of the civilian population has been killed, a capital city of 400 000 inhabitants
has been razed to the ground,
the infrastructure has been completely destroyed, and hundreds of
thousands of refugees are living in inhumane conditions in ‘temporary’ camps.

All the humanitarian and human rights NGOs working on the ground have made the same observations: a
marked deterioration in the situation of civilians and an increased number of disappearances and deadly
‘cleansings’ of villages by Russian troops.

On 23 March 2003, in the midst of the war and while Russian tanks were still in the streets of Grozny,
Moscow enforced the holding of a ‘referendum’ on a ‘new constitution’. The results of the referendum, for
which the turnout was 80 % and in which 96 % of the electorate voted for the constitution, were
reminiscent of the Soviet era and disputed by all independent observers.

On 5 October 2003, Moscow’s stooge, Akhmad Kadyrov, became the ‘official’ President of the Republic of
Chechnya in a sham election, the thinly disguised aim of which was the political
isolation of Aslan
Maskhadov’s government. The election of that government, the most recent legally elected government in
Chechnya, was recognised in 1997 by the OSCE, and it remains the only legitimate government to date.

Since the beginning of the second war in October 1999, the European Parliament and the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe have adopted numerous resolutions calling for a political solution to
the conflict in Chechnya, but they have not, however, produced the desired effect.

I believe that Europe could do more than it is doing at present to promote a negotiated political solution
to the current conflict.

It is clear that a serious attempt to find a political solution to the war in Chechnya will, sooner or later,
ultimately bring to the negotiating table the two parties to the conflict, the representatives of Vladimir
Putin and those of Aslan Maskhadov.

What specific action does the Commission plan to take in the next few weeks and months with a view to
promoting a negotiated political solution of that nature? In particular, does the Commission intend to
contribute to the establishment of a dialogue between the two sides in the conflict, the government of
Vladimir Putin and that of Aslan Maskhadov? What incentives does it think that it will be able to propose
in order to encourage them to take part in this dialogue?

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/939

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 2004)

The Commission remains deeply concerned at the current situation in the North Caucasus. There are
continued reports of human rights abuses in Chechnya and reprisals against civilians by Russian armed
forces and their Chechen allies, as well as rebels.

The implementation of shared values in the fields of democracy and human rights underpin the EU-Russia
Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation and are central elements in the EU-Russia partnership. This
has been underlined in the Commission Communication on relations with Russia of 9 February 2004 (1),
as well as in the Council Conclusions of 23 February 2004. The Commission believes that it is essential to
hold an open and frank dialogue with Russia on these issues.

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. The Tacis programme is
there is a specific joint programme between the
also active in this domain.
Commission and the Council of Europe to promote pluralist democracy and the rule of
law. The
Commission will also continue to press Russia to adequately investigate all allegations of human rights
abuses in a prompt, independent and impartial manner. Those responsible should be prosecuted. Russia
should also permit publication of the Council of Europe report on torture in Chechnya and allow the
United Nations (UN) rapporteurs on torture and on summary executions to report on the situation.

In North Caucasus,

The Commission will continue to raise the issue of respect for human rights in appropriate international
fora and within the framework of the EU’s political dialogue with Russia, such as in the meeting of the
EU-Russia Ministerial Troika in Dublin on 14 April 2004 and the EU-Russia Summit in Moscow in May
2004.

(1) COM(2004) 106 final.

(2004/C 84 E/1037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1072/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(6 April 2004)

Subject: Commemoration in the town of Greccio of the first crib featuring live animals

Greccio, a town in the province of Rieti twinned with Bethlehem, is famous all over the world for the
commemoration of the first crib featuring live animals, devised by St Francis in 1223. Since 1973 the local
tourist board has committed itself to publicising and preserving this unique historic cultural event. As a
result of the work done over the years interest in the event has increased considerably. It involves more
than one thousand people in period costume and attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world.

The whole initiative is designed to promote the dissemination of culture and traditions across borders,
which is one of the objectives of the ‘Culture 2000’ programme.

In view of this, can the Commission say:

1. what measures or programmes are envisaged to fund this kind of initiative in the context of ‘Culture

2000’;

2. whether the sector is included in the priorities for 2004;

3. whether this kind of event might be funded via other programmes, in addition to ‘Culture 2000’;

4. whether the Commission itself might sponsor the initiative?