WRITTEN QUESTION E-1274/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Denunciation of Russian atrocities in Chechnya.
C 81 E/24 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 3. 2001 Reply (29 September 2000) The Council discussed the situation in Mozambique on 20 March. It had followed closely and with great concern the situation in Mozambique and expressed its solidarity with the people and Government of Mozambique and other countries in the region as they grappled with the devastating consequences of the flooding and its sympathy with them as they set about rebuilding their lives. The Council recognised the broader impact this catastrophe was likely to have on Mozambiqueís economy. It endorsed the Mozambique Governmentís twin-track approach aiming at meeting needs for relief while working to rehabilitate affected areas and to ensure both macro-economic stability and maintenance of on- going assistance. To this end virtually all the Member States and the Commission participated in the International Reconstruction Conference for Mozambique hosted by the Government of Italy in Rome from 3 to 4 May and convened by the Government of Mozambique in collaboration with the United Nations. This Conference was a great success, meeting its target of $ 450 million, in large part because of the active and positive contribution of the Community and the Member States who together pledged € 228,5 million, representing approximately half of the total of € 495 million. It is proposed that the Community aid include funds for flood protection and urban roads in Gaza province as well as budget support for the Reconstruction Programme and funds for projects for transport, rural telecommunications, basic social services, rural production and de-mining. These funds are in addition to the € 100 million disbursed in 1999 in Mozambique under the Commu- nityís cooperation programme and up to € 150 million are expected to be disbursed in 2000. The Council will continue to follow the situation in Mozambique closely. (2001/C 81 E/027) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1274/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council Subject: Denunciation of Russian atrocities in Chechnya (27 April 2000) Press reports of 30 March indicated that Amnesty International, in agreement with its Russian branch and using the testimony of survivors as its basis, recently denounced summary executions, torture, rape of women and men and indiscriminate bombing of civilians and refugees in Chechnya, comparing the current levels of repression with the worst of the Stalin era. Is the European Union aware of these accusations, and does it endorse them? What specific action is it seeking to undertake to put an end to this tragic situation? Reply (29 September 2000) The Council is fully aware of the accusations made by Amnesty International, and regards them with all due gravity. The Presidency has received a letter from a group of 29 NGOs, headed by Amnesty International that presents a detailed list of alleged human rights abuses committed in Chechnya by Russian forces. The Presidency responded to the NGO coalition on behalf of all Member States on 17 May 2000. A copy of the original letter and the Presidency reply are joined to this answer. 13. 3. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 81 E/25 As underlined in answers to previous parliamentary questions, the Council and Member States of the Union have acted decisively on a number of fronts in order to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The Council has also been constantly forthright in condemning the alleged human rights abuses in Chechnya. In the Council of Europe, when Ireland was the Chair in Office, Ministers met with Foreign Minister Ivanov to present their concerns. They continue to follow developments in Chechnya with the closest attention, and in June will report to the part-session of the Parliamentary Assembly, as requested in paragraph 24 of the EU proposed a Recommendation 1456. resolution on Chechnya that was adopted in the 56th session on 25 April 2000. The EU has again raised the subject of Chechnya at its summit with Russia on 29 May. In the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Such concerted pressure may be seen to have yielded some demonstrable results. In a statement made on 13 April 2000, President Putin undertook that áall facts of violations of human rights and abuses in the course of the anti-terrorist operation in the North Caucasian region of the Russian Federation, whoever commits them, are thoroughly investigated and, if confirmed, all the rigours of the law will be applied to the guiltyí. Access to the region has been granted to international visitors, including the fact-finding visits to Chechnya by EU ambassadors to Moscow and an ECHO assessment team. The State Duma of the Russian Federation has created a Commission on Human Rights, Displaced Persons and the Normalisation of Social, Political and Economic Situation in the Chechen Republic. Also, on 17 April 2000, the creation was announced of a National Public Commission for Investigating Crimes and Monitoring Human Rights in the North Caucasus, chaired by the former Minister of Justice, Mr Krascheninnikov, and supported by President Putin. these positive developments, In spite of there are no grounds for complacency. The international community faces difficult challenges such as achieving implementation of the commitments made by Russia, preventing the spread of conflict to neighbouring areas, and ensuring regional stability. To this end, the EU and its Member States are cooperating fully with the OSCE, of which Austria is the Chair in Office. For as long as it may take, the Council will continue to press determinedly for a durable and equitable settlement in Chechnya. (2001/C 81 E/028) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1297/00 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council (27 April 2000) Subject: Withdrawal of Schengen-typeí visa from Mr Rakhimov In March 1998, following the publication of reports in sections of the Danish, French, English and Russian media of false information alleging that he was connected with criminal organisations involved in drugs trafficking, Mr Gafur-Arslanbek Rakhimov, an Uzbek businessman, had his Schengen-typeí visa withdrawn, despite the fact that the secretariat of the file monitoring commission of IOC-Interpol, when approached by the Committee for the Protection of Human Rights in Uzbekistaní (Uzbek branch of the International Society for Human Rights) has stated that it holds no information to back up the accusations that have been made, and that the Russian authorities had also indicated to them that they held no information on the individual in question. Can the Council say on what grounds the decision to withdraw the visa was taken? Will it also check that the decision was taken in accordance with the principles that govern the withdrawal procedure for Schengen-typeí visasí? If this is not the case, will the Council undertake to act to reinstate Mr Rakhimovís Schengen-typeí visa?