| Chechenpress Resolution of the chechen problem is impossible without law and truth TO: Translated from Lithuania Mr. P. PETER SCHIEDER PRESIDENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE Mr. SOLOMON PASSY PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE Mr. JOSEP BORRELL FONTELLES PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PETITION November, 11, 2004 RESOLUTION OF THE CHECHEN PROBLEM IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT LAW AND TRUTH: NEGOTIATIONS WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS Conscience of Europe is silent while today's towns and villages of Chechnya resemble a horrid surrealistic picture. Half of the nation has been scattered in Russia and Western Europe ; the number of Chechens killed in the last war exceeds 100,000; the right to life is not secured; cruel repressive raids on settlements take place on a regular basis; 70% of Chechen children are ill with tuberculosis (Moskovskiye Novosti, 13-08-2004, p. 14). Is it Russia 's fight against international terrorism? In the settings of guerrilla war, mines fields, obstructions and mass check-points, 85% of the electorate “took part” in the presidential election held in August this year, with 74% “voting for” the elected president. While international observers evaluated the election in Belarus as unlawful, the election in Chechnya , held under the circumstances of war and repressions, was recognised by the European Council. This is confirmed by the fact that its Parliamentary Assembly permitted the “elected” Chechen President to speak in its session, whereas the Chechen parliamentarians of 1997 were not given the floor. If today's situation in Chechnya would be like that in Belarus , it could be called a paradise. Now a parliament is going to be “elected” in Chechnya , where over 80,000 troops are dislocated in the territory of 17,000 km2. This reminds of Algeria , where 95% of the population voted for the country's remaining within France in the 60s. The law is profaned in today's Chechnya . The Chechen nation is demonised on racial basis. The only way to stop hopeless and senseless actions and blood is negotiations with all the forces in order to achieve armistice and reconcilement - and not imitation of law, not violence. This is both your right and duty. We believe that it would be lawful to assess and resolve the Chechen problem on the basis of Articles 1 and 50 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966 . Members of Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania : Stanislovas Buskevicius, Jonas Ciulevicius, Kestutis Skamarauskas, Jurgis Razma, Irena Degutiene, Rasa Jukneviciene, Povilas Jakucionis, Andrius Kubilius, Vytautas Sustauskas, Arturas Vazbys, Romanas Sedlickas, Nikolajus Medvedevas, Egidijus Skarbalius, Vilija Aleknaite – Abramikiene, Algis Kaseta, Saulius Nefas, Algimantas Valentinas Indriunas, Algirdas Sysas, Klemensas Rimselis LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS SEIMO TARPPARLAMENTINIU RYSIU SU CECENIJOS RESPUBLIKA ICKERIJA GR UPE SEIMAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA GROUP FOR INTERPARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS WITH THE CHECHEN REPUBLIC OF ICHKERIA 53 Gediminas Ave. , LT-2002 Vilnius , Lithuania Tel.:+370 5 239 66 18 / 239 62 14 Fax +370 5 239 63 39 E-mail Stanislovas.Buskevicius@lrs.lt 13.11.04 http://www.chechenpress.info/english/news/2004/11/13/04.shtml |