Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-11-17-Speech-3-130"
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"en.19991117.5.3-130"2
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"I would now like to speak about the humanitarian crisis. The EU has addressed the issue of the urgent need to deliver humanitarian aid to relieve the distress of those fleeing the war. The images of refugee encampments covered in snow are a grim reminder of the plight of those who have had to flee their homes.
With winter approaching, we must do our utmost to make arrangements to see that international humanitarian aid reaches its destination. The humanitarian situation in the region looks very worrisome. The UN report reinforces the picture we have of a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.
Finally, we must point out that it is in the interests of both the EU and Russia that military action be ceased as quickly as possible, because prolonging it would harm the relations that are only just developing between the EU and Russia. We will follow the situation closely and continue to put pressure on Russia, so that a lasting and peaceful solution can be found to the situation in Chechnya. The next opportunity for this – as Commissioner Patten mentioned – is the OSCE Summit starting tomorrow in Istanbul.
Under humanitarian law, the victims of internal conflicts have a right to humanitarian aid. Russia has an obligation to guarantee that the aid reaches its destination unhindered. The EU has called on Russia to ensure that aid gets through quickly and unhindered, so that a humanitarian catastrophe may be avoided.
The General Affairs Council this week adopted a resolution, which once again focused on the disproportionate and arbitrary use of military action, the suffering of the civilian population and the need to start talks to achieve a political solution. In the resolution the Union urges Russia to acknowledge its commitments to international humanitarian law, to make use of the excellent services of the OSCE and to guarantee that international humanitarian aid arrives at its destination. The EU also repeated its position on Russia’s territorial integrity.
Earlier this autumn, the Russian leadership, at its meeting with the EU and representatives of EU countries, assured us that Russia would seek a political solution. Prime Minister Putin did just that at the EU/Russia summit meeting in Helsinki on 22 October. We have to stress to Russia that we expect it to keep its word and look for a political, not a military, solution.
Russia has said its actions are to do with the combating of terrorism. In its opinions, the EU has always condemned terrorism in all its forms. At the same time, however, the EU has emphasised that anti-terrorist action must always be in compliance with the dictates of human rights. It considers that violence towards civilians carried out in the name of the fight against terrorism is never acceptable.
It is vital that the administrative border between Ingushetia and Chechnya remains open so that the civilian population fleeing Chechnya can safely reach the Ingushetian side. Civilians must be guaranteed unhindered, cross-border access to refuge from the bombing and the violence. To deny these civilians their basic rights in a conflict situation would be a breach of international humanitarian law. The EU has tried to see to it that the border remains open and that everyone in need of assistance and protection can cross it.
Visits to the area by various delegations – Foreign Minister Halonen (30 October), UN organisations (3 – 7 November) and the OSCE (9 – 10 November) – can be regarded as positive steps. The visits to the area have been a means not only to acquire more information but also to make the concerns of the international community more visible.
For the international community to be able to have an impact on the situation we should endeavour to have an international presence in the northern Caucasus. The most natural context for this would be the OSCE. We must aim to establish in Nazran, Ingushetia, the OSCE’s Grozny mission, which has now been evacuated to Moscow."@en1
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