In Connection with Adoption of European Parliament Resolution on Situation in Chechnya

PRESS RELEASE OF THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
Unofficial translation from Russian
266-19-02-2001

Strongly worded in form and unconvincing in content, the resolution passed by the European Parliament on February 15 on the situation in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation cannot fail to arouse bewilderment. It is difficult to shake off the impression that Eurodeputies prefer to live in a sort of virtual world, having no possibility or desire to notice the reality surrounding them. What are, for example, their assertions worth about the "illegal detention of civilians in concentration camps," the appeal to "both parties to the conflict to declare an immediate ceasefire," or the demand that the President of Russia should "begin talks with the lawful representatives of the Republic of Chechnya in the presence of international organizations." Yet not a word is said there of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia. Neither did the Europarliamentarians find any words of condemnation for terrorism, hostage taking and the other crimes of militants. Moreover, the "historical memory" of the sponsors of the resolution stops abruptly at PACE's recommendation of last April, while the recent decision of the Assembly on restoring the Russian deputies' credentials is not even mentioned.

We cannot but wonder also at the fact that the adoption of the resolution on Chechnya coincided in time with the end of the visit to Russia of a high-level delegation of the European Union consisting of Anna Lindh, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, which currently holds the EU Presidency, Christopher Patten, member of the European Commission, and Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union/High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy. As is known, the EU delegation held productive and pithy conversations and talks with the representatives of the Russian leadership with a view to filling the Russia-EU strategic partnership with practical content. The question of Chechnya was also touched upon. Ivanov convincingly and frankly informed the partners from the EU of the actual situation in the Chechen Republic, of the program adopted by the Government of the Russian Federation to restore a normal life and the economy of the Chechen Republic and to solve a complex of varied tasks, and of efforts for achieving a political settlement.

The resolution of the European Parliament, containing a set of long outdated reproaches and accusations against the Russian authorities that have nothing in common with reality, attests to either the obvious shortage of information on the actual situation in Chechnya, or to the absence among Eurodeputies of a wish to perceive adequately not only the official stand of Russia and our arguments, but also the objective facts.
We believe that the strategic partnership of Russia and the European Union, based on common values, presupposes extensive possibilities of stating the concerns and differences of the parties. But this principle, in its turn, requires a more carefully considered reaction and a concern for the preservation of trust and mutual understanding.
February 19, 2001