Vol. 567 No. 7
60 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the current situation in Chechnya; if he has had contact with his counterpart in the Russian Federation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14869/03]
On 23 March 2003 a referendum was held in Chechnya on a new constitution for the republic under which Chechnya will remain part of the Russian Federation but with some degree of autonomy. The Central Election Commission stated that 95.97% of votes cast were in favour of the new constitution. Due to security concerns, the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR, did not conduct a standard election observation mission in respect of the referendum. A small ODIHR expert team which travelled to Chechnya in the context of the referendum acknowledged irregularities in the voting process but noted expressions of hope from voters that the referendum would lead to a political process which would bring peace and stability. Following on from the adoption of the new constitution, presidential elections are expected to be held in Chechnya before the end of the year.
President Putin has made it clear in his statements that he believes the referendum to have been a success and that it marks the first stage of the reconstruction process in Chechnya. On 21 May, the state Duma, Parliament, gave preliminary approval to a Bill submitted by President Putin proposing an amnesty for rebels who disarm by 1 September and to others involved in the conflict, provided that they have not committed serious crimes such as murder, rape or kidnapping. The presidential administration has presented the amnesty as a second major move towards peace, following on from the constitutional referendum in March.
As I stated in reply to a parliamentary question on 5 March last, Ireland, together with our partners in the European Union, supports continued dialogue with the Russian Federation on a range of human rights issues, including the situation in Chechnya. At the EU-Russia Summit in November 2002, the Danish Presidency raised EU concerns about Chechnya with President Vladimir Putin, and reiterated the European Union's belief that there must be a political solution there. The Chechnya issue will feature in discussions at the EU-Russia Summit in St. Petersburg this weekend which the Taoiseach will attend.
Ireland has also raised the issue of human rights in Russia, including Chechnya, in international fora and bilaterally with the Russian Federation, through diplomatic channels. Most recently, my colleagues, the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, and the Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, have raised the Chechnya issue with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Chizhov and in other bilateral contacts. They have assured the Russian Federation of our concern and interest in the issue and conveyed our hope that there can be an inclusive settlement which brings peace to Chechnya.
I repeat my strong condemnation of the bomb attacks in the region on 12 and 14 May last in which more than 70 people were killed and hundreds more injured. The Government remains concerned about the security and human rights situation in Chechnya and the prospects for a peace settlement there.
