RIAN: Alvaro Gil--Robles to visit Chechnya and Ingushetia next week

2003-02-04

COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TO VISIT CHECHNYA, INGUSHETIA

BRUSSELS, February 4. /RIA Novosti's Victor Onuchko/ - The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles is to visit Chechnya and Ingushetia over February 10-16, reports the Commissioner's office associate Gregory Matieu. He adds that it is the fourth trip of this kind, which aims at monitoring human rights policies on the spot. Though a visit itinerary is not yet specified, it is certain to begin in Moscow where the Commissioner is to meet with Russian government officials.

Then, the Council of Europe delegation is to head for Chechnya and Ingushetia to meet with civilian and military authorities as well as with representatives of non-government organisations. The commissioner sees his priority in observing above all the conditions of internally displaced persons, those who are returning back home and those who are staying in the tent camps. Camps in Ingushetia are to be examined with particular scrutiny to see whether the inmates have any prospects for returning home or settling in new places.

Asked if this trip, in particular, conclusions on its results, are connected with a referendum to take place in Chechnya on Mach 23, Gregory Matieu said that the Office of the CE Commissioner for Human Rights has no mandate to search for a political solution of the Chechnya problem. His task is to evaluate the level of the observance of human rights. And though it is a component of the effort to improve the living conditions of civilians, which we all pursue, a delegation is not going, nevertheless, to touch upon political solutions, said Gregory Matieu. Its function is restricted to monitoring the observance of human rights.

The delegation is to make an overview of its trip in Moscow where a press-conference will be staged.