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Prodi tells Russia to respect rights in Chechnya
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European Commission president Romano Prodi urged Russia Friday to respect human rights in separatist Chechnya in a war that has been fiercely defended by President Vladimir Putin.
Prodi said one day after holding talks with Putin on the European Union's expansion up to Russia's borders on May 1 that the EU fully supported Russia's territorial integrity. (*)
The comments suggested that the EU believed that separatist Chechnya should remain a part of Russia after more than four years of war. (**)
But Prodi stressed that Russian troops must respect and protect civilians as federal forces battle "terrorism" in the region.
"Let me make clear that the EU fully and inconditionally supports Russia's territorial integrity. Furthermore, we have a common cause in the need to fight terrorism," he said in a speech at a Moscow art gallery.
"But terrorism cannot be defended by force alone. Combating terrorism makes our continual attachment to democratic values even more imperative. The respect of human rights does not limit the effectiveness on the fight on terrorism," he said.
"As our partnership opens, both Russia and the EU must be prepared to become more open to each other's scrutiny," Prodi said after delicate talks with Putin on EU expansion, which Russia has looked on with caution.
Prodi's comments came just two days after Putin lashed out at the West for repeating its demands that Russia negotiate with Chechen separatists, and for the UN rights body's failed attempt to condemn Russia's record in the Caucasus republic.
He compared the call to Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's proposal of a truce with Europe, which was roundly rejected.
"Terrorist number one, Bin Laden, made a truce proposal to Europe that as far as I know was rejected," Putin said Wednesday.
"Why? And why are similar calls addressed to Moscow?" he demanded during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Russia views rebels from Chechnya, including its former president Aslan Maskhadov, as "terrorists" and has since installed its own administration in the republic through a highly controversial vote staged amid tight security and continuing violence.
Putin poured troops into Chechnya while still serving as prime minister in October 1999 following a wave of apartment block bombings in Russia that the government pinned on the separatist rebels.
Prodi said one day after holding talks with Putin on the European Union's expansion up to Russia's borders on May 1 that the EU fully supported Russia's territorial integrity. (*)
The comments suggested that the EU believed that separatist Chechnya should remain a part of Russia after more than four years of war. (**)
But Prodi stressed that Russian troops must respect and protect civilians as federal forces battle "terrorism" in the region.
"Let me make clear that the EU fully and inconditionally supports Russia's territorial integrity. Furthermore, we have a common cause in the need to fight terrorism," he said in a speech at a Moscow art gallery.
"But terrorism cannot be defended by force alone. Combating terrorism makes our continual attachment to democratic values even more imperative. The respect of human rights does not limit the effectiveness on the fight on terrorism," he said.
"As our partnership opens, both Russia and the EU must be prepared to become more open to each other's scrutiny," Prodi said after delicate talks with Putin on EU expansion, which Russia has looked on with caution.
Prodi's comments came just two days after Putin lashed out at the West for repeating its demands that Russia negotiate with Chechen separatists, and for the UN rights body's failed attempt to condemn Russia's record in the Caucasus republic.
He compared the call to Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's proposal of a truce with Europe, which was roundly rejected.
"Terrorist number one, Bin Laden, made a truce proposal to Europe that as far as I know was rejected," Putin said Wednesday.
"Why? And why are similar calls addressed to Moscow?" he demanded during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Russia views rebels from Chechnya, including its former president Aslan Maskhadov, as "terrorists" and has since installed its own administration in the republic through a highly controversial vote staged amid tight security and continuing violence.
Putin poured troops into Chechnya while still serving as prime minister in October 1999 following a wave of apartment block bombings in Russia that the government pinned on the separatist rebels.
