Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-02-15-Speech-4-209"
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"en.20010215.9.4-209"2
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".
Mr President, the Commission continues to follow events closely in Chechnya, and we agree that the situation is far from satisfactory. We ought to take account, however, of a number of recent developments. The decisions taken recently by President Putin and the Russian Government with a view to normalising the situation in that republic in the Northern Caucasus are certainly worth mentioning.
Mr Kadirov’s former provisional Chechen administration has become permanent. Control of the security forces is now in civilian hands. A substantial reduction in the troops stationed in Chechnya is planned. It is also worth mentioning that the Federal Government has announced a substantial increase in the resources to be devoted to rebuilding Chechnya.
Despite these hoped-for improvements, the present situation is indeed still causing great concern. Reports are still being received stating that members of the security forces have violated human rights. The Russian administration is certainly not following up these reports properly, despite the efforts made by the office of Mr Kalamanov, presidential representative for human rights. To give you an indication of the inadequacy of the response, the number of cases taken to the courts can be counted on the fingers of one hand and, as far as we are aware, not a single sentence has yet been handed down.
Some essential steps have been taken in the judicial area. A number of district and central courts have been set up, and over twenty judges have been trained and appointed in Chechnya. However, for the practical benefit of these measures to be felt by the citizens, greater cooperation on the part of certain authorities is called for, especially the military prosecutors.
The Commission has made repeated representations to this effect to the Russian authorities and my colleague Commissioner Patten is raising the matter again in Moscow today. I am sure that on his return he will be very well placed to update you on this matter which is of particular concern to you as indeed it is to us.
I should like to emphasise that the Commission is continuing to provide political and material support for Mr Kalamanov through the TACIS programme. It must, however, be noted that no agreement has been reached concerning the technical conditions to allow the immediate return of the OSCE support group to Chechnya. We are working with the Romanian Presidency on this matter. We still aim to have the support group back in the field as soon as possible, but in reasonable conditions of safety and with unrestricted freedom of movement within the Chechen Republic.
I could also mention the need to improve the conditions relating to the provision of humanitarian aid. This involves travel permits and the possibilities for communication. However, we are all very familiar with these issues and I do not think it is worth dwelling on them.
By way of conclusion, I should like to say that the situation seems to be improving, although a very great deal remains to be done. We have yet to see the extent to which and how soon the Russian authorities implement the measures they have announced. In this regard, it has already been stated that troop reductions will be effected as the military situation allows. This is worrying, because the reduction may be slower that we hope for. Nonetheless, these measures are essentially positive and it is to be hoped that they will enable a permanent political solution to be achieved.
The Russian Government recognised the need for a political solution in the joint declaration made after the last summit with the European Union held in Paris last October. Pending such a solution, the Commission will continue to seize the opportunities offered by the many regular political contacts with the Russian authorities to convince them of the need to investigate violations of human rights in Chechnya more thoroughly and efficiently. We shall also urge them to prevent such violations and, if appropriate, to punish those responsible."@en1
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