| Deutsche Welle 10.04.2005 Chechnya on the Agenda During Putin Visit Human rights groups don't want friendship to get in the way of reality Russian President Putin arrived in Germany Sunday to open the Hanover trade fair along with ally Schröder. Human rights groups have however warned the chancellor not to play down Putin's policies in Chechnya. Amid tight security, Russian Premier Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder jointly opened the Hanover industrial trade fair, the largest of its kind in the world. Over 6,000 exhibitors from 65 countries -- 1,000 more than last year -- are displaying their products this year. As the partner country of this year's fair, Russia is to take center stage as it attempts to lure investors in Germany. The show is also hoped to boost Germany's floundering economy and provide a fresh impetus to the key industry of machine manufacturing. "I am looking forward to our meeting in Hanover which will undoubtedly lead to the further development of the Russian-German partnership," Putin told Schröder by telephone this week. Schröder maintains a close friendship with Putin, and recently underlined the importance of ensuring Russia is involved in Europe's planning. "Without a genuine strategic partnership with Russia, there will not be peace and sustainable economic development for us Europeans," the chancellor said. But, the visit is unlikely to be entirely free of controversy. Putin is accompanied by the pro-Moscow president of the breakaway region of Chechnya, Alu Alkhanov and deputy Ramsan Kayrow. Human rights activists in Germany are using the occasion to stage a vigil in Hanover outside the trade fair grounds to protest against Alkhanov's visit. The Society for Endangered People has accused the Chechnyan politician of grave human rights violations and said he is responsible for the torture and murder of his fellow countryman. Human rights organization Amnesty International too has urged German Chancellor Schröder not to play down Russian President Putin's human rights and Chechnya policies during his visit. The organization said in a statement that the human rights situation in Chechnya remained unchanged and bad. EU aid to victims of Chechnyan conflict Alkhanov it is reported will use the trip to meet representatives of German humanitarian organizations about what they can do towards rebuilding war-shattered Chechnya within the framework of EU reconstruction efforts. The idea of involving the German humanitarian organizations was raised during Putin's visit to Germany in December. The European Union's executive commission announced on Thursday it was giving 22.5 million euros ($29.1 million)in aid to victims of the conflict in Chechnya where separatists and Islamic militants have been fighting pro-Russian forces in Chechnya for more than five years. The funds, the first to be made available this year, come on top of 148 million euros already handed out by Brussels' humanitarian aid agency Echo since the beginning of the conflict in 1999. Ties between Moscow and Brussels have long been strained over what the EU sees as human rights abuses by the Russian army as it tries to regain control over rebel Chechnya. EU Mission to Chechnya On Monday, the European Union is to send a team to Chechnya to look at ways of giving economic and reconstruction aid, the first time the bloc has tried to give such help there. The team would also visit the neighboring republics of Ingushetia and North Ossetia. The team of around 10 officials from Brussels and the Commission's Moscow office will be in the region from April 9 to 16, and will visit the health, education and economy ministries in each of the three republics. "The aim is to clarify the most pressing needs and identify workable options for an EU contribution," the EU's executive commission said in a statement. "The Commission is already the largest international donor of humanitarian assistance in the region, and this mission will look into how EU aid can now be extended into broader recovery activities." DW staff (sp) 11.04.2005 A worthy example Shortly before President Putin’s visit to Germany the Society for Threatened Peoples (Gesellschaft fur bedrohte Volker) sent an open letter to the Premier of Niedersachsen, Mr. Christian Wulff demanding him to make it clear to the public that «Chechnya’s president» Alu Alkhanov and «Chechnya’s vice premier» Ramzan Kadyrov were not welcomed in Niedersachsen, in particular the Hanover trade fair. Previously these two «politicians» were to reportedly accompany Putin during his trip. Although Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said later that Kadyrov hadn’t been included into the official delegation, the Society for Threatened Peoples is using the occasion to stage a vigil in Hanover outside the trade fair grounds to protest against their visit. This is not a matter of Kadyrov, who can come to Germany privately, what really matters is Russia’s policy in Chechnya and Germany’s position towards the behavior of its «strategic raw materials partner." The open letter of the Society for Threatened Peoples reads: «Two suspected war criminals will be accompanying the Chancellor and the Russian president on this to Germany: the so-called Chechen president, Alu Alkhanov, who made it to power in August 2004 thanks to elections rigged under the pressure of the Russian army’s bayonets, and the so-called representative of the head of government, Ramzan Kadyrov. On the occasion of their visit at the Hanover fair, Alkhanov and Kadyrov intend to hold a talk on German humanitarian help in the crisis area." Tilman Zuelch, the Society Secretary General, criticized the statement from the federal government saying that neither Alkhanov nor Kadyrov were on the official list of the Russian delegation. Zuelch believes that the main point remains, because Schroeder and Putin are well aware of the situation in Chechnya. «According to our estimations, Zuelch said, — since 1994 about 200,000 people have fallen victims of the on-going genocide. Putin bears most responsibility for half of the dead since 1999. Schroeder offers him concrete support in terms of close cooperation, he praises Russia’s policy in Chechnya and condemns Chechens «terrorists», although it is known that the Russian side is behind 95% of terrorist acts…" Members of the Society for Threatened Peoples also criticized Chancellor Schroeder personally whose behavior seems unacceptable to them: «On December 21, 2004, Schroeder claimed that he was cooperating with Putin to find a solution to the Chechen war. If this is his solution, he is facilitating the genocide." This year Russia is a partner-country at the traditional trade fair in Hanover and that’s why heads of Russia’s regions can be included into the delegation. No matter how hard Putin tries to persuade his western colleagues that «Chechnya is an ordinary Russian region," many politicians and human rights activists have a different opinion in this respect. What was the true point of the presence of Alkhanov and Kadyrov at the Hanover fair? We doubt Alkhanov could have been so eloquent as to attract potential investors to Chechnya. Germany is likely to give the expected money without Alkhanov’s poor attempts to pretend a respected and smart politician. Although Alkhanov’s presence can be explained formally. But why did Putin decide to take Kadyrov to Germany, where as «Chechnya’s vice premier» — is in charge of «the force bloc» — is accused of mass human rights violations? Was his presence to «strengthen positions» of the Russian president on the Chechen issue? Of course — not. The aim was different. It’s an open secret that Alkhanov’s legitimacy is doubted even in Putin’s «entourage." Kadyrov is considered a criminal. Trying to present these two «controversial figures» within the Russian delegation, Putin wanted to begin the process of their world rehabilitation, thereby rehabilitating his policy in Chechnya. And who knows how the two «puppets» of «friend Vladimir» would have been received in Germany, if not for such principle position of the public organization worth of copying. The Chechen Times http://www.chechentimes.org/en/comments/?id=27965 |