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The Moscow Times Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004. Page 4 EU Gets Tough With Russia Over Chechnya Combined Reports The European Union formally set out its policy toward Russia on Monday with a strongly worded statement saying the bloc would press Moscow on human rights and Chechnya while boosting ties with other ex-Soviet states. The EU decided in December on a complete review of its Russia policy ahead of the bloc's expansion in May to take in three former Soviet Baltic republics and several ex-satellite states of the former Soviet Union. The new document appeared aimed at establishing clarity after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, as holder of the rotating EU presidency in November, praised Russia's Chechen policy -- a direct contradiction of European Commission views. Monday's communication called for "policy coherence" over Russia, an economic power with vast resources and a major supplier of natural gas to the EU it will soon border. It reflects long-standing European concerns over what the union sees as Russia's poor record on human rights. "The communication calls for the EU to underline that the EU-Russia partnership must be founded on shared values and common interests, which implies discussing frankly any Russian practices that run counter to European values, including those on human rights, media freedom and cooperation on the environment," the commission said in a statement. But State Duma International Affairs Committee chairman Konstantin Kosachyov on Tuesday downplayed the importance of the statement. Kosachyov told reporters he believed the final version of the document -- which will be discussed by the 25 current and future bloc foreign ministers in Brussels on Feb. 23 -- would be "balanced" and not "humiliating" for Russia. Kosachyov said he thought "a set of radically minded EU officials" was trying to express anti-Russian sentiments that were based on "caveman" ideas of the situation in Russia. EU-Russian trade was worth 78 billion euros last year, but an EU official said last week the bloc was frustrated that the two sides were making slow progress in relations in other areas. Ties between Brussels and Moscow are set to move up on the agenda following EU enlargement, but the communication setting out the new policy notes that "in many areas EU and Russian positions appear to have diverged" in recent years. Divergences include Russia's failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, the need to make a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with all 10 acceding EU states work more effectively, and the Chechen conflict. The communication also recommended the EU upgrade its policy toward the southern Caucasus countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and the western states of the former Soviet Union -- Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova. (Reuters, MT)
Duma intends to ask German FM about Zakayev's visit MOSCOW, February 10 (Itar-Tass) -- State Duma members intend to ask German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer during their meeting about the recent visit by Chechen emissary Akhmed Zakayev to Germany. The deputies intend to discuss with Fischer various aspects of Zakayev's visit, chairman of the Duma international affairs committee Konstantin Kosachev told a press conference. The meeting with the German minister in the committee is planned for next Thursday. Zakayev, who is on a wanted list in Russia, visited Germany in late January at the invitation of some German ruling party members of the parliament. As German media reported, the foreign ministry gave him personal safety guarantees. Duma members are most likely to ask Fischer whether the article in the Stern magazine's latest tissue corresponded to the reality. The article said that visas to enter Germany were given to Chechen militants. The Stern said
that the German foreign ministry allowed a firm in Germany in 2001-2002
to process visas to enter Germany. And with assistance of the firm,
people that can be surely numbered among Chechen gunmen received entry
visas and came to Germany, the legislator said, adding that there was
no official reaction by German authorities to the publication. (*) Comment by N.S. (Chechnya mailing list moderator): This is a nice example how that kind of propaganda goes in circles. "Der Stern" writes that the information about the "terrorists" was received by the German BKA (Federal Criminal Police) from Russian security services. And now some Duma members want to ask Fischer if the allegations coming from their own state-owning crime syndicate are correct. How is the poor man supposed to know this? They ought to ask Putin or Patrushev. N.S. See the Stern article at: http://www.smartgroups.com/message/viewdiscussion.cfm?gid=2068066&messageid=114 |