Simon Coveney
Question:160 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the consideration the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council has given to the situation in Chechnya. [6546/03]
Written Answers - Human Rights Abuses.
The General Affairs and External Relations Council considers overall EU relations with the Russian Federation, including the situation in the Republic of Chechnya, on a regular basis.
As I stated in reply to a Parliamentary Question on 27 November 2002, Ireland, together with our partners in the European Union, supports continued dialogue with the Russian Federation on a range of human rights issues, including Chechnya. At the last EU-Russia Summit on 11 November 2002 the Danish Presidency, led by Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, raised our concerns about human rights in Chechnya with President Putin and re-iterated the EU's belief that there must be a political solution to the conflict there.
EU relations with Russia were discussed at the GAERC meeting on 24-25 February and will be discussed again at the meeting on 18-19 March. These discussions are particularly important in the light of the upcoming EU-Russia summit scheduled for 30-31 May in St. Petersburg. At the GAERC meeting in February I indicated that the agenda for the St. Petersburg summit, which this time will be attended by heads of state or Government of all EU member states, should be broad enough to encompass dialogue with Russia on all important issues including the situation in Chechnya.
Ireland has also raised the issue of human rights in Russia, including Chechnya, in inter national fora such as the UN Commission on Human Rights, and bilaterally with the Russian Federation, through diplomatic channels.
We acknowledge the right of the Government of the Russian Federation to defend its territorial integrity, to overcome terrorism and crime and to protect its population. While acknowledging the legitimate security concerns of the Russian Federation, we believe the fight against terrorism must be conducted in accordance with internationally accepted human rights standards.
I will continue to work for the protection of human rights in Russia and to promote a peaceful solution in Chechnya in the overall context of developing positive Irish and EU relations with Russia.