Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-10-27-Speech-3-193"
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"en.19991027.7.3-193"2
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"Mr President, Members of the European Parliament, the summit conference held by the EU and Russia took place in what is a historic building, as far as Russia is concerned, the Assembly House of the Estates in Helsinki. The Assembly House of the Estates was the first Parliament building constructed for the purpose in the Russian Empire. It was there that three of the four estates of the Finnish autonomous grand duchy used to assemble.
After this there was a short debate on the EU’s common foreign and security policy. Prime Minister Lipponen and High Representative Javier Solana gave a presentation to the Russian delegation on the development of the common foreign and security policy. Mr Lipponen said the presidency was drafting an EU report on crisis management and peacekeeping capabilities for the European Council in Helsinki. Mr Solana added that special consideration was being given to how Europeans could work together in the implementation of the Petersberg Tasks.
Regarding the fight against crime, it was stated that the European Council at Tampere had been fruitful. Regional cooperation is important in the fight against cross-border crime, and Russia is a key partner in cooperation. The Union is drafting an action programme to counter organised crime, which will be debated in the seminar on organised crime to be held by the EU and Russia in Helsinki. The action programme should be ready at the start of 2000.
Mr Putin also underlined the importance of fighting against organised crime. He mentioned drugs, money laundering, corruption and terrorism as the main areas of concern. He said the Duma had just adopted a convention for the extradition of criminals. A convention on money laundering would also soon be ratified. Mr Putin stressed that it was important to move from words to deeds. TACIS aid would also be needed in the area of combating crime.
Russia would also like to increase cooperation in issues relating to the prevention of the trade in human beings. Trade in human beings is practised in the northern Caucasus, among other areas. Workers belonging to the Red Cross and other relief organisations have been captured.
Drug smuggling, according to Mr Putin, was a special problem in Central Asia which, broadly speaking, if you included Afghanistan and Iran, had overtaken Latin America as the most important drugs manufacturing centre in the world. The added problem for Russia is that its borders with Central Asia are open.
Finally, I would like to say a few words about the northern dimension, whose aim it is to increase well-being, strengthen security and prevent environmental pollution, nuclear risks and the dangers of organised cross-border crime. All this will also play an essential part in cooperation between the EU and Russia. Prime Minister Putin said that Russia wanted to play an active part in this work. It is important for Russia that the region is comprehensively developed.
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On the agenda at the meeting, there were four main items: firstly, EU/Russian relations, including the current situation in the EU and Russia; secondly, the northern dimension; thirdly, cooperation in the fight against crime; and, fourthly, current international affairs, in which the focus was on the forthcoming OSCE Summit and the situation in the west Balkans. The most positive result of the summit was Russia’s EU strategy. This strategy reflects the greater importance of the EU in Russia. The strategy is now being analysed.
In my speech I will focus on Russia’s internal situation, in particular, the situation in Chechnya. In addition, I will speak about the EU’s common foreign policy, the fight against crime and the northern dimension.
Prime Minister Putin said the Russian economy was growing in most areas. He said foreign trade was having a positive impact on the economy. There was more effective collection of taxes, and the rouble had steadied in value. Next year’s budget will be based on a growth rate of 1.5%. According to Mr Putin, Russia has a growing market economy, based on the principles of the rule of law. One of the problems of economic activity, however, is that bartering still plays too large a part in commerce. The bank system must also be improved. Furthermore, central and regional budgetary relations have to be redefined, and Russia’s still very closed economy opened up.
Mr Putin gave a lengthy account of the situation in Chechnya. He said that, despite speculation, a state of emergency would not be declared for the whole country on account of the situation in the northern Caucasus. He said the government would not be provoked, and democratic elections would be held in due course. He also stressed that the government would continue to fight against terrorism in Chechnya. Russia has created a security zone and is feeding the 100,000 people who have left the region. Mr Putin’s tone was on the whole tough when he spoke on this subject.
Prime Minister Putin was self-critical and admitted the Russian government had made a mistake, in that it had not handled the situation well with regard to Russia’s nearly 20 million strong Muslim population. Dialogue with moderate Muslim leaders had also been neglected. This had created a space for fundamentalism.
The humanitarian situation in the region is growing worse all the time. It is good that the UN humanitarian evaluation expedition is able to travel to Ingushetia to investigate the situation.
Representing the country to hold the presidency, Prime Minister Lipponen, and the President of the Commission, Romano Prodi, were urging Russia to initiate action to de-escalate the crisis. Both firmly stressed that a political solution had to be found for the conflict. Military action could not solve political problems or remedy the desperate economic situation in the region. In the opinion of the EU, the solution also requires dialogue with the Chechen leaders. The Union totally condemns such disproportionate use of force, of which civilians become the victims. Prime Minister Lipponen furthermore stated this to the press on his visit to Parliament earlier today.
Ladies and gentlemen, on the whole our impression was that the Russian government unfortunately did not seem to have any clear plan for a lasting political solution to the situation in Chechnya."@en1
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