Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-04-10-Speech-3-020"
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"en.20020410.1.3-020"2
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"Mr President, it would appear important not to confuse the situation in Chechnya with the situation that has developed after 11 September. Clearly, the Russians have a tendency to lump together what is happening on the various chessboards of the world – in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Chechnya and Georgia – as if it were all part of the same phenomenon, which it is not. The Russians often appear to be the most avid readers of those geopolitical experts who predict conflict between the Islamic and Christian civilisations, some ideological gymnastics being necessary here in respect of the positions they held not so long ago.
In my opinion, we too make mistakes every now and again. For instance, when the European institutions label the Chechen guerrillas ‘bandits’ and ‘terrorists’, it is impossible to imagine being able to hold a dialogue with bandits and terrorists. Therefore, I would look for a single term to define this section of the fighters, who have strong support from the Chechen people.
Given that the European position overall is much more complex, we need expert observers on the ground to counteract attempts to oversimplify the situation locally. I therefore wholeheartedly welcome Lord Judd’s mission; I wholeheartedly welcome the proposal to set up troikas, or quintuples I should say, with the Russian opposition party and the Working Group on Chechnya, to monitor the situation and investigate the violations of human rights; it would appear appropriate, in addition, to set up an ad hoc delegation for the Northern Caucasus to discuss all the current issues with the Russians and Chechen representatives. All this is very positive: it means that we will, at least, be present.
In essence, the resolution we are discussing today calls, for the most part, upon the Russians to help the victims, to accept the setting-up of monitoring committees and groups and to assist and cooperate with those who work for humanitarian organisations and need permits, visas and protection in order to be able to do their jobs. In hoping for the return of 200 000 refugees, Parliament is, of course, doing no more than just expressing a nice idea.
It all depends, then, on goodwill, on the willingness of the Putin Government to accept what are essentially implicit criticisms of the current situation in Chechnya – for otherwise it would not be necessary to send so many delegations. We will be able to measure the extent to which Russia intends to establish good working relations with the European Union from its willingness to accept these invitations."@en1
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