Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-07-02-Speech-3-129"
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".
Mr President, my greetings to the representative of the Commission and all the Members of the European Parliament present in the Chamber. If I may, Mr President, I would like to introduce my statement on Chechnya by expressing my full personal commitment and my determination to continue as of now attending the House and playing a full part in the work of the European Parliament, my intention to pay heed to the considerations expressed in this and other debates and
to keep Parliament fully informed, insofar as it is in my power, regarding the Council’s
and activities.
The EU-Russia Cooperation Council of 15 April last was the Union's first opportunity to send a high-level political message of vigilance, interest and general availability. The St Petersburg EU-Russia Summit expressed the hope that the political process recently set in motion, along with economic and social reconstruction, will lead to the reestablishment of rule of law, to the promotion of human rights and to genuine reconciliation. The St Petersburg Summit condemned any act of violence, particularly terrorist violence, that might jeopardise the current prospects for a political solution and acknowledged the substantial contribution that international organisations can make, working together
with the Russian authorities.
Lastly, once the region's economic reconstruction is underway, the Union will also have to make a financial commitment, although one based on strict conditions, of course. The representative of the Commission, who is due to speak shortly, will be able to describe to you the aid package being put together. The cooperation of the Russian authorities will be fundamental in ensuring that this aid actually reaches those in deep need. The possibility of launching a European Union initiative in Chechnya in the future deserves closer examination. By supporting the process begun by President Putin, this initiative could extend Community intervention from the field of humanitarian aid, on which we have all been focusing up until now, to the different – but equally important, if I may say so – area of institution-building and the promotion of socio-economic development, placing a number of practical initiatives in the framework of the existing cooperation between the European Union and the OSCE. The OSCE is currently assessing, along with its Russian counterpart, the possibility of aid interventions in specific sectors: I have already mentioned elections – an extremely important area – the judicial system, police reform and the reintegration of refugees and displaced persons. These elements of institution-building are traditionally held to be Union priorities too.
In conclusion, with regard to the institutional process launched by Moscow, the Italian Presidency will be committed to facilitating a definitive political solution which, if possible, involves all the representatives and segments of the Chechen population not compromised by terrorism. We believe that the institutional reform launched should have the practical, genuine result – the automatic result, if I may say so – of improving the present levels of respect for the human rights of the Chechen people.
Turning to the subject of Chechnya, as you all know, the situation in the Republic of Chechnya, one of the components of the Russian Federation, has been the object of the European Union’s attention for some time now as a result of the serious acts of military violence and terrorism that characterise it and of the likely consequences for Europe. The situation being played out in Chechnya will have an effect that reaches well beyond that small Republic. The effects of the situation, whether negative or positive, will affect the entire Caucasus area.
I believe that some knowledge of past events, however summary, is important when forming an opinion on the present and on the outlook for the future. That is why I am giving you this brief history. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the subsequent birth of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Chechnya has been the scene of violent Russian-Chechen clashes and of bloody separatist acts. The 1997 Peace Treaty laid the groundwork for a broad-based
autonomy under the Presidency of Chechen leader, Aslan Maskhadov, while guerrilla groups continued to be active throughout the country. In 1999, Moscow intervened in Ingushetia and North Ossetia while, in Chechnya, Russian troops occupied the capital city of Grozny. Years of attacks and repression followed in a climate of brutality on the part of both separatist fighters and Russian forces.
The European Union, the Council of Europe and the OSCE recognised, even then, Russia's right to defend its territorial integrity and to combat terrorism, but condemned its disproportionate use of force, inviting the Russian Government to implement a political solution to the crisis and to allow humanitarian aid organisations to enter Chechnya. After 11 September 2001, Russia stepped up its anti-terrorism efforts, even though the connection between Chechnya and Islamic fundamentalism – which does exist – appeared to be quite indirect. The roots of the war remain essentially nationalistic in nature, despite its growing and dangerous susceptibility to Islamic extremism, particularly as regards the methods and instruments used. Although, in September 2001, a channel of dialogue opened up between the Russian authorities and one of the main exponents of the Chechen resistance, it remained uncertain and unclear whether a political solution to the conflict could be found. It was against this backdrop that the serious terrorist incident at the
theatre occurred, followed by the numerous, and equally violent, attacks of recent months.
The situation on the ground is extremely difficult: the local economy is falling apart, there is contention within the pro-Russian administration, there are terrorist threats from the separatists and brutality, and violent military action from Russian militias. While, in the past, Chechnya had a flourishing economy, due, of course, first and foremost, to oil production and to a highly developed metal and mechanics sector, it is now considerably reduced; unemployment is at 42%, there are 64 000 Chechen refugees in the nearby Republic of Ingushetia, 8 000 displaced persons in reception camps and 290 000 homeless. Civil life has, for the most part, come to a standstill, reduced to a very sorry state with the destruction of archives and offices.
Ladies and gentlemen, the major institutional reform initiative launched by President Putin with the adoption of a new Constitution, to be approved by local referendum, has been grafted onto these bases. In Mr Putin's plan, the process should be supported by the international community and, in particular, by the European Union, the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The political plan consists of the concession of broad-based autonomy and greater powers to local organisations in the context of the Russian Federation, whose territorial integrity is thus safeguarded. Withdrawal of non-necessary military contingents and the reduction of checkpoints were begun so as to facilitate the gradual normalisation of the region and the holding of the referendum. The results of the referendum of 23 March – which saw an 89% participation rate – were, as we know, highly favourable to the draft Constitution. This outcome has demonstrated that the Chechen people, weary of war, have chosen the political solution within the Russian Federation. At the same time, it has also emerged that the separatist rebel leader, Aslan Maskhadov, and his followers, have lost the better part of the support of civil society. In accordance with the recently adopted Constitution, it is possible to foresee Chechen presidential elections by the end of October, while parliamentary elections will take place no earlier than three months after the election of the future President.
Nevertheless, despite this positive outcome, the referendum is only a first step in the political transition underway. A large number of unresolved issues remain, including the definition of the powers held by the Chechen Republic and the Russian Federation, the provision of compensation to those who have lost property and the adoption of measures for combating crime, including the crimes committed by the Federal Forces. As you all know, ladies and gentlemen, at present, there are 200 serious criminal cases pending against members of the police force. On 6 June 2003, the State Duma adopted an amnesty law for Chechnya to be applied to both rebels and members of the police force, on condition, of course, that they have not committed violent crimes. It offers clemency to those who give up armed, separatist resistance by 1 September of this year. Nevertheless, despite the amnesty, attacks on the ground are continuing, prompting, as a result, harsh responses from the police force.
The international community has been actively following the developments and the initiatives of Moscow. While, in March, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution that contemplates the possibility of setting up an International Tribunal in order to bring those guilty of serious violations of human rights in Chechnya to justice, more recently, the political and institutional process begun was examined in depth in the course of the talks of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Moscow. In the context of the OSCE, the Presidency is laying the foundations, in agreement with Russia, for the resumption of the organisation’s activities in the Republic, based on specific programmes agreed
regarding elections, good governance, the judicial system, the media, the police and humanitarian aid. In April, the 15 Members of the Union presented a draft resolution at the Geneva Conference on Human Rights that censured, that condemned the serious violations perpetrated in Chechnya, a resolution which, as you are aware, was not adopted for lack of a majority of votes in favour. Its failure to be adopted was, as you know, described by Moscow as a ‘triumph of good sense’.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Council has noted the European Parliament's views on the situation in the Republic of Chechnya and will endeavour to ensure that the political process recently set in motion leads to the reestablishment of the rule of law and the reconstruction of the region's economic and social fabric. The Union is united in its overall positive judgment of the start of the institutional process launched by President Putin with regard to Chechnya. We now expect to see an about-face in terms of human rights and we call for the punishment of those guilty of abuses. The European Union's continuing attention was made clear through the recent visit in April to Chechnya itself of the Troika of Heads of Mission in Moscow as well as through support for the resumption of the OSCE’s activities in the region, which I mentioned earlier."@en1
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