Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 7

Written Answers. - Chechen Crisis.

John Browne

Question:

93 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, he has taken to highlight with his EU counterparts the Russian invasion of Chechnya; the action, if any, he and his colleagues have taken to safeguard the civilian population of Chechnya; if he intends to call a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers to discuss the matter; the direct contact he has made with the Russian President; and the plans, if any, he has to meet the Russian President with a view to discussing the safeguarding of Chechnya and its civilians. [27292/99]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

The crisis situation in Chechnya is a matter of profound concern to the Government. Since early September Russian forces have been carrying out a military campaign against Russia's self-ruled, separatist republic of Chechnya, following attacks by rebels based there on the neighbouring republic of Dagestan. The conflict has escalated in the past couple of weeks and the capital Grozny is now surrounded by Russian ground forces, and sporadic fighting is taking place in the suburbs. Russia has indicated that it has established safety corridors' to facilitate the evacuation of the city by the 20,000 to 40,000 civilians remaining there. However, many civilians remain too frightened to use these routes. Chechen President Mashkadov has announced that he is prepared to hold talks with Russian Emergencies Minister, Mr. Sergei Shoigu and the OSCE Chairman in Office, Mr. Knut Vollebaek.

From the beginning of the conflict the issue has been discussed at every meeting of EU Foreign Ministers, and a number of high level demarches have been made to the Russian authorities. The European Council in Helsinki on 10-11 December took a strong stand on this issue. It condemned the intense bombardments of Chechen cities and the treatment of civilians as totally unacceptable. The Council made clear that it expected Russia to abide by the basic principles of humanitarian law, the commitments it has made within the OSCE and its obligations as a member of the Council of Europe. The Council also indicated that it would draw the consequences from the situation in Chechnya for the Union's Common Strategy with Russia, its Partnership and Co-operation Agreement and its TACIS Programme, all of which would be reviewed. The OSCE and the Council of Europe were also invited by the European Council to review, in their field of competence, the modalities of their cooperation with Russia. The European Council Conclusions have been conveyed by Finnish Prime Minister Lipponen to Prime Minister Putin.

Although the Russian threat to treat any remaining civilians in Grozny as terrorists has been withdrawn, the Government remains deeply concerned at the plight of the civilian population. Apart from those caught up in the conflict around Grozny, an estimated 350,000 Chechens have been displaced , some 246,000 to the neighbouring Russian republic of Ingushetia. The Government has allocated IR£220,000 in humanitarian assistance to Chechen refugees. This allocation is additional to Ireland's share of the European Union aid package of £1.2 million.

Ireland's concerns about the civilian population have been made known to the Russian authorities on numerous occasions and at the highest level. The Taoiseach expressed our views directly to President Yeltsin on the occasion of the OSCE summit in Istanbul in November. On 8 December I called in the Russian Ambassador. I made clear that the Government remained very disturbed at the tragic effects on the civilian population of the military campaign in Chechnya and stressed the need for an early restoration of peace and stability in the region. I indicated, in my capacity as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, that I would do everything possible to assist this, including the possibility of a visit to the region. I am now pursuing this with the Russian authorities.

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Gil-Robles, visited the north Caucasus on 1 December and his report will be considered by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg on 15 December. I will be discussing the Chechen conflict with the Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Paris on 16 December. I intend, as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to make every effort to assist a peaceful, political solution.

The OSCE is also actively engaged in efforts to promote a political solution. The Chairman in Office, Norwegian Foreign Minister Vollebaek, visited Chechnya from 14-15 December and he is reporting to the OSCE Permanent Council on 15/16 December. The European Council urged Russia to use that visit for a dialogue with the elected leaders of Chechnya. It also urged that a field office of the OSCE Assistance Group in Chechnya should be opened immediately in Nazran, Ingushetia. The Government fully supports these proposals and calls on Russia to use the facilities of the OSCE and the Council of Europe to help bring about a lasting peaceful solution in Chechnya.