03/05/2002 | Poul Nielson's letter to Olivier Dupuis on Chechnya

Dear Mr Dupuis

Thank you for your letter of 27 February enclosing a copy of your open letter to the President and all members ofthe European Parliament

As you will know from ou, statements on the issue, the Commission shares your concem about the situation in Chechnya. We regularly raise the issue in political level meetings with Russian Ministers and urge them to respect international standards of humaan rights such as those laid down by the OSCE and Council of Europe where Russia is a member. We also point out that the fight against international terrorism should not be used as a justification for the violation of basic human rights, such as we see in Chechnya,

In parallel with our political efforts, we are also making every effort to provide humanitarian aid to those wbo need it, in Chechnya itself and in the Northern Caucasus. Since October 1999, through ECHO, we have provided euro65 m in humanitarian aid. We repeatedly raise our concern for the safety of foreign humanitarian aid workers with the Russian authorities since we feel more needs to be done to enable them to work effectively.

There will only be a lasting solution to this crisis when there is a political solution to which the majority of the Chechen people can subscribe. Through your own and the efforts of others in the Parliament, Council and Commission I hope that the EU will continue to press for such a solution.

Yours sincerely
Poul Nielson

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