Monica Barnes
Question:56 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Chechnya. [16924/00]
Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.
Brian O'Shea
Question:63 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts the Government has made to secure a resolution of the conflict between Russia and Chechnya; the representations he has made to the Russian government in regard to the conflict; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16847/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 63 together.
The Government remains very concerned at the situation in Chechnya. Guerilla warfare continues, both in the southern mountains and in the Chechen capital, Grozny.
At the centre of our concerns are the innocent civilians who have been caught up in this conflict. It is estimated that approximately 20,000 civilians remain in Grozny. Over 185,000 Chechens are still in the neighbouring Russian Republic of Ingushetia. Ireland has allocated IR£310,000 in humanitarian assistance to Chechen internally displaced persons, to augment Ireland's share of the European Union aid package of £7.4 million. We will continue to do everything possible to alleviate the plight of civilians.
I have had a number of meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov, both bilaterally and as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe from last November to May. At these meetings I have continually stressed the need for political dialogue with elected Chechen representatives; the importance of a speedy deployment, with Russian security guarantees, of the Council of Europe experts seconded to the office of Special Representative for Human Rights in Chechnya, Mr. Kalamanov; and the need for a credible and transparent investigation of allegations of human rights abuses and effective procedures to bring the perpetrators to justice.
These matters were discussed by the committee of Ministers with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov in Strasbourg on 11 May, and I reported on the discussion and on Minister Ivanov's commitments to the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Dublin on 16 May. The issues of Russia's compliance with the fundamental human rights standards of the Council of Europe, and its progress in initiating political dialogue leading to a cease-fire, will be on the agenda of the next session of the Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg on 26-30 June, when the Committee of Ministers will present its reply to recommendations 1444 and 1456.
As yet, there is little sign of political dialogue commencing. However, Russia has now established direct administration over Chechnya, and has appointed Mr. Akhmad Kadyrov, a Muslim cleric, to head this administration.
The Government continues to support efforts by the international community to promote a peaceful settlement to the conflict. The EU has repeatedly emphasised to Russia the seriousness with which it views the situation in Chechnya. There have been a number of high-level discussions of the issue with the Russian authorities, including at the EU-Russia Summit on 29 May. The OSCE Assistance Mission is to return to the region shortly and 62 OSCE monitors have been deployed on the Chechnya-Georgia border to prevent conflict spillover. Both the return of the OSCE Assistance Mission and the deployment of Council of Europe experts have been delayed by the security situation, but I understand that Russia hopes to make progress on this matter in the next few weeks.
I will keep the House informed of further developments.