Statement of US Gvt  delegation at 59th session of the UN commission on HR

http://www.humanrights-usa.net/statements/0416chechnya.htm

Explanation of Vote

Item 9: L.13/Rev. 1 Situation of Human Rights in the Republic of  Chechnya

Ambassador Michael E. Southwick

U.S. Delegation to the 59th United Nations Commission on Human Rights


Madame Chair:

The United States will vote in favor of this resolution because of  our deep concern over continuing human rights violations by Russian  armed forces and security services in Chechnya. The resolution lays  out violations of international human rights law and humanitarian law  observed in Chechnya. They are very serious and must be addressed by  the government of Russia if we are ever going to see a political  resolution of this long and painful conflict. The people of Chechnya
have been subjected to unendurable suffering as a consequence of this  war.

However we wish to highlight other aspects of the resolution. It  strongly condemns terrorist acts and assassinations of local  officials in Chechnya, as well as the hostage taking in a Moscow  theater and the suicide truck bombing of Grozny's main government  building last year. These acts were carried out by certain Chechen
groups fighting for the separation of the Republic of Chechnya from  the Russian Federation. The United States government has designated  three Chechen combatant organizations as terrorist organizations, and  the UN 1267 Committee has designated them as terrorist groups for  their ties to the Taliban and al-Qa'ida. My government has also  called on the Chechen authorities and insurgents to renounce terrorist acts. We have also demanded that the leadership of the  Chechen separatist movement repudiate, in word and in deed, all ties  to Chechen and international terrorists. But as far as we are able  determine, the Chechen separatist leadership has not done so.*

Finally, my government wishes to emphasize its hope that - as the  resolution also states - the March 23 constitutional referendum in  Chechnya will enable a political process to take hold that produces a  lasting reconciliation in the area. My government finds encouragement  in several promises** made publicly by senior Russian government  officials to alleviate the situation in Chechnya, including the  promise of an amnesty, enforcement of observance of human rights,  reduction in number of checkpoints, an agreement delimiting  competencies between local authorities and Moscow, an increased flow  of reconstruction funds into Chechnya, compensation for destruction  of dwellings, and efforts to facilitate the voluntary return of  Internally Displaced Persons to Chechnya. We hope this political  process will bring an end to the violation of human rights in that  troubled region of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Madame Chairperson.

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Comment: Well finally, despite the hesitation, the US voted in favor of the resolution. Better late than never!

* That is simply false. Maskhadov repeatedly condemned terror acts.

** How many empty promises and years without the slightest trace of any "alleviation" must we see before this encouragement fades away? M.M.