Written Answers. - Russian-Chechen Conflict.
Brian O'Shea
Question:
58
Mr. O'Shea
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the Government's views on the continuing conflict involving Russia and Chechnya; and if he has lodged any protests with the Russian authorities regarding attacks by their forces which are reported to have led to many hundreds of deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians
[20875/99]
The Government is seriously concerned at the situation in Chechnya. On 7 August Islamic militants, supported by armed incursions from Chechnya, proclaimed the independence of Dagestan, a multi-ethnic autonomous republic in Russia's north Caucasus region. The rebels failed to get local support in Dagestan, and were forced to withdraw to Chechnya. A number of apartment block bomb blasts in Moscow and other Russian cities in September, which claimed almost 300 lives, were blamed by Russia on Chechnya-based guerrillas. Russian Prime Minister Putin took a firm line, which has widespread Russian public support. Russia has been bombing alleged rebel bases in Chechnya since 5 September. It has occupied a "security zone" covering the northern third of Chechnya, and has recently crossed the Terek river and encircled the Chechen capital, Grozny. Russia has also withdrawn its recognition of Chechen President Maskhadov, and has moved to set up a pro-Moscow government-in-exile in the northern third of Chechnya which its forces control.
Since September, more than 350,000 people have fled their homes in Chechnya. Of these, 175,000 have moved to seek security and shelter in Ingushetia. According to reliable UN sources, almost a similar number of displaced people remain trapped in Chechnya. While there seems to be no immediate danger of widespread starvation, malnutrition is a real and present threat to children and others who are especially vulnerable. Insanitary conditions in the IDP camps may lead to outbreaks of epidemics. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has sent convoys of food supplies, tents and blankets to the area. The European Union has agreed to channel significant amounts of aid to the region through the international aid agencies such as the UNHCR. However, the aid agencies continue to meet with obstacles and delays on the ground. Within Chechnya there are reports of continuing civilian casualties due to Russian air and artillery attacks, including a report of a Russian attack on a market and a maternity hospital and of attacks on refugee convoys. Russia has claimed that the market was trading in arms and that the convoys were transporting Chechen rebels.
On 30 October the Finnish Foreign Minister, Ms Tarja Halonen, representing the Presidency of the European Union, visited Ingushetia on a fact-finding humanitarian mission. The mission was undertaken after consultations with Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations. In Ingushetia, Foreign Minister Halonen met with President Ruslan Aushev and visited the refugee camps Sputnik and Severnyi Gorodok in eastern Ingushetia. In her discussions with Russian federal and local authorities, Foreign Minister Halonen emphasised that those seeking to leave the conflict zone should be allowed to do so and the road to Ingushetia should be opened forthwith. She deplored recent accounts of displaced persons being harassed and attacked as they have attempted to flee the conflict. She stressed the urgent need for a concerted national and international aid effort to alleviate the crisis and pointed out that victims of internal armed conflicts have the right to receive humanitarian assistance. The Russian government has repeatedly expressed its readiness to accept humanitarian relief operations in the region, and should accordingly remove all obstacles that delay them.
The European Union recognises the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, which includes Chechnya and Dagestan and the Union strongly condemns terrorism. However, the Union is deeply concerned at the plight of civilians in the conflict area. The focus of EU action since the beginning of the conflict has been to make clear to the Russian authorities the unacceptability of civilian casualties and human rights abuses and to work as constructively as possible to try to persuade the Russian authorities to use dialogue to resolve the situation.
A high level EU troika met with Russian authorities on 30 September and on 7 October the EU External Relations Commissioner, Chris Patten, together with the Finnish and Portuguese Foreign Ministers met with Foreign Minister Ivanov. At the EU General Affairs Council on 11 October, Ministers adopted conclusions expressing deep concern over the situation in the northern Caucasus and underlined the need for political dialogue. In discussions of the issue at the European Council in Tampere on 15-16 October there was concern that efforts must be made to search for a political solution. The issue was raised with Russian Prime Minister Putin at the EU-Russia summit in Helsinki on 22 October, and the EU Presidency called on the Russian Government "immediately to engage in negotiations to reach a political settlement; to seek a dialogue with all the legitimate leaders of the North Caucasus and to consider availing itself of the good offices of the OSCE".
Foreign Minister Halonen has, during the last week, spoken twice on the phone with her colleague, Mr. Igor Ivanov, the Foreign Minister of Russia. She made clear that the European Union is deeply worried about the deteriorating situation in the northern Caucasus and its implications for the whole of the Caucasus. The EU holds the Russian Government to its word that it is not seeking a military solution. A military solution to a problem that is basically political is neither acceptable nor attainable. The European Union expects the Russian Government to explain its intentions and underlines the need for a rapid de-escalation of the conflict. The European Union calls upon the Russian Government to immediately engage in negotiations to reach a political settlement and to avail itself of the good offices of the OSCE.
The Government fully supports the views expressed to Foreign Minister Ivanov by Foreign Minister Halonen representing the Presidency of the European Union. Together with EU partners the Government is concerned to see an urgent political solution to the situation in Chechnya. The Government fully condemns all acts of terrorism including the recent bombing attacks in Russian cities. It recognises the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and need for the federal authorities to take measures to deal with terrorism. However the loss of civilian life reported to be taking place in Chechnya is totally unacceptable and the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing the conflict zone is of the utmost concern. The Government's concerns regarding reports of attacks on civilians have been made known directly to the Russian authorities, and we will continue to press our view, both directly and through EU contacts, that there can be no military solution to the Chechnya conflict. The Government continues to work bilaterally and with EU partners to promote a peaceful negotiated settlement to the conflict and urgent access to the vulnerable population by the international aid agencies.
