|
CHECHNYA: 145 Members of the EP support the peace plan presented by the Maskhadov government for a UN administration Brussels, 2 February 2004. Jens-Peter Bonde, President of the Europe of Differences Group (Denmark), Emma Bonino, former European Commissioner (Radical, Italy), Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-president of the Green Group (France), Gerard Collins, former Foreign Minister (UEN, Ireland), Ciriaco De Mita, former Prime Minister (PPE-DE, Italy), Monica Frassoni, Co-president of the Green Group (Belgique), Renzo Imbeni, Vice-president of the European Parliament (PSE, Italy), David Martin, Vice-president of the European Parliament (PSE, United Kingdom), Gérard Onesta, Vice-president of the European Parliament (Greens, France), Doris Pack, President of the Delegation for Relations with the countries of south-east Europe (PPE-DE, Germany), Michel Rocard, former French Prime Minister (PSE, France), Ursula Schleicher, President of the Delegation for relations with the countries of the south Caucasus (PPE, Germany), Bart Staes, President of the EU-Russia parliamentary co-operation Committee (Greens, Belgium), Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Rome (PSE, Italy), Graham R. Watson, President of the Liberal Group (United Kingdom), and 130 other MEPs (http://www.radicalparty.org/chechnya_appeal/signatories/signatories_mep.php) from all the groups
and all the member countries have expressed their support for the Peace
Plan presented by the Maskhadov government, which proposes the establishment
of an interim UN administration in Chechnya, the withdrawal of all Russian
military and civilian forces and the disarmament of the forces of the
Chechen resistance.
Olivier Dupuis, a member of the European Parliament (MEP), today began the 15th day of a hunger strike intended to highlight the continuing plight of the conflict in Chechnya. In an interview with RFE/RL on 30 January, Dupuis spoke about the goals of his strike and his long-standing commitment to trying to improve the human rights situation in the breakaway Russian republic. Brussels, 2 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- A hunger strike is a drastic measure at the best of times. It seems particularly jolting in the normally quiet world of day-to-day EU politics -- especially when the person on strike is a member of the European Parliament and his reason is Russia's 4 1/2-year war in Chechnya. The breakaway republic is an unfashionable cause in the EU, which is hoping to join forces with Russia as a geopolitical counterbalance to the United States. Moreover, the European Parliament has no say in shaping EU foreign policy. But Dupuis has done more to keep Chechnya in the news than the rest of the EU put together. This is his second hunger strike for Chechnya. The first was staged two years ago and continued for 24 days. "You have, since 1999 -- since the time when Putin arrived -- a decline in the respect of basic human rights. This is a serious situation [anywhere], but the difference in Chechnya is that it's a tragic situation."On the 12th day (30 January) of his latest fast, Dupuis cut an unexpectedly lively figure. Traces of the long days without eating were visible on his face, but his mind was clear and rational and his energy seemingly undiminished. Dupuis, incidentally, allows himself three weak cappuccinos and vitamins every day, to augment a diet that is otherwise based only on water. Talking to RFE/RL, Dupuis said that apart from drawing attention to the situation in Chechnya, his hunger strike has a number of more limited, concrete goals. "It's also a sign of very big disappointment," he said. "To be honest, I'm fed up. [This is] not, of course, about the global question [of Chechnya]. The global question is very difficult. [But] even on the small aspects of the question, beginning with the humanitarian approach, or [the] question of refugees, or [the] question of visas for high-ranking people from the government of [separatist leader Aslan] Maskhadov, we're facing -- not only myself, but many friends trying to struggle on the Chechen question -- we're facing on a daily basis bureaucratic obstacles. And we are really fed up with this." Dupuis said the EU's inability to push even the slightest of improvements through is not befitting of a "great Europe trying to promote democracy and human rights." In the long run, Dupuis said, his actions are intended to put pressure on the EU and its member governments -- as well as countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia, and others -- to "stop the genocide of the Chechen people." He says politicians are not alone to blame for the lack of interest in the issue. Although events in Chechnya are covered by the print media, many large and influential television networks tend to steer clear of the conflict. His protest, Dupuis says, is a "small contribution" toward changing this. Some of his efforts are already bearing fruit, at least in the European Parliament. Dupuis says his attempts to promote a Chechen peace plan envisaging United Nations involvement -- a plan put forward by Maskhadov's separatist administration -- have won the support of nearly a quarter of the parliament's deputies. "The situation in the European Parliament is not bad -- I think it's much better than in the other institutions of the European Union," he said. "For example, on the peace plan of [the foreign minister of the pro-independence administration, Ilyas] Akhmadov, which is now officially supported by Maskhadov too -- to establish a UN provisional administration in Chechnya -- we have got the support of 145 MEPs, [out of a total of] 626." Dupuis added that although not all 145 necessarily "think of Chechnya every day," all of them recognize that what is taking place there is not acceptable. Dupuis is scathing, however, when it comes to the European Commission, tasked with carrying out most of the EU's common policies. He gives short shrift to Commissioner Poul Nielson, who -- as the person in charge of humanitarian aid -- Dupuis says should be most worried about Chechnya. Yet, he says Nielson was last there in early 2000. Thousands of Chechen civilians, separatist fighters, and Russian troops have been killed since the beginning of Russia's second Chechen campaign in 1999, with reports of kidnapping, rape, extrajudicial killings, and other atrocities reported regularly. Dupuis says the lack of action is "awful," considering the severity of the situation, which he describes as far worse than the bloodshed in either Bosnia or Kosovo, conflicts he says received far greater attention. The relative indifference on Chechnya he puts down to a general "lack of initiative" throughout the EU, and traces it to the energy-based partnership that he said the EU is trying to build with Russia. But he says he remains concerned about Russia, and that the situation in Chechnya is just the start. "To be honest, on Russia, I'm trying to do other things, too. On Mr. [Aleksandr] Nikitin, for example, the famous ecological activist [who has taken the Russian government to the European Court of Human Rights for prosecuting him lengthily on ill-founded charges], and other cases like that. I'm trying to raise these questions with the [European] Commission and the Council [of Europe] too," he said. "I think you have a very serious situation in Russia. You have, since 1999 -- since the time when [President Vladimir] Putin arrived -- a decline in the respect of basic human rights. This is a serious situation [anywhere], but the difference in Chechnya is that it's a tragic situation." Dupuis, who has repeatedly been denied Russian visas, has never visited Chechnya but says he receives most of his information on Chechnya from contacts with the unofficial administration of Aslan Maskhadov and scholars in France, Great Britain, and the United States. What does Dupuis expect in the future? He does not rule out the possibility that the EU will change its policy on Russia. "If we really want democracy for Russia, Europe absolutely has to change its policy," he said. "I think the [road] is very long, longer than it was in 1999. It's urgent to change, but it is possible. Russia needs Europe more than Europe needs Russia, that's for sure -- and the same [goes] for America." Russia has often described its war in Chechnya as a matter of defending its territorial integrity. But as Dupuis put it, "the destruction of a country and its people is the exact opposite of 'integrity.'" The peace plan he supports calls for an international peacekeeping force to be placed in Chechnya, to provide safety and stability for the Chechen people and the security guarantees Russia needs to end its armed struggle. Dupuis hopes to continue his hunger strike through 23 February, the anniversary of Josef Stalin's 1944 deportation of the entire Chechen nation to Central Asia. In the meantime, he hopes to see some results for his efforts. Dupuis is scheduled today to hold talks on rehabilitation plans for a group of Chechen children injured in the conflict -- something he has been pursuing for eight months. And he says he will continue to press for the lifting of visa restrictions on pro-independence Chechen officials like Maskhadov, and assurances that Chechen boys and young men have the freedom to pursue education rather than be forced into fighting. At this stage,
Dupuis says, any change is welcome. "I don't want to stop tomorrow,"
he said. "First, I do not think I will get a concrete and precise answer
[to my questions by] tomorrow. I think we have accumulated so many [problems]
that we have to begin to solve concrete issues. I do not, of course,
have the ambition to solve the [entire] problem of Chechnya, but we
have to begin [somewhere]."
Olivier Dupuis reaches the 15th day of his hunger strike On 18 January the MEP Olivier Dupuis, a member of the Transnational Radical Party, began a hunger strike to urge the authorities of the European Union and of the member States to address the question of the Chechen genocide from a political and humanitarian point of view. Olivier Dupuis also invites Europe to support the Peace Plan presented by the Maskhadov government for an interim United Nations administration in Chechnya, to welcome wounded Chechen children into hospitals around the EU, and to draw up a "white list" to guarantee freedom of residence and circulation throughout the territory of the EU to the members of the government of President Maskhadov. You can support the Peace Plan for an interim United Nations Administration by signing the international appeal at www.radicalparty.org =====
Appeal to Olivier Dupuis, Member of the European Parliament The best way to win — is to tell the truth! Dear Olivier, you have been on hunger strike for more than two weeksalready. Most probably you knew that is would not help a lot to defendChechens. I believe that going on hunger strike you wanted to show toEurope how disgustingly indifferent it can be to sufferings of people.How hypocritical its leaders and politicians can be. Officially, everything is all right. The west is «concerned» about thesituation in Chechnya and at the same time finds «positive shifts." As aresult — a balance is observed. The word «genocide» is almostpronounced. Almost… Among the victories of civilization: a strictstatement of different European commissions that «Chechen refugees mustnot be forced back to Chechnya»… That’s right, let them live for yearsin dirty, rotten tents, staying in long lines to get humanitarian bread.As for the killed, tortured to death, disappeared — Europe does not wantto know about them… 200,000 dead Chechens — is a domestic affair ofRussia. As well as deportations of Chechen refugees from Europe. Dear Olivier! Recently many our readers have addressed to the editorialboard with one and the same request — to tell you to stop your hungerstrike. Even if a member of the European Parliament dies from emaciation— Europe will easily forget this disgrace. In fact, very few people support Chechens. And every time when theyraise their voice in our defense — that gives us an additional strength.Indeed, that is in no way a protection from bullets, shells, tortures…But that is what helps us not to die from desperation. And the louderyour voices, the greater hope we have for Peace to return to us. Andyour honesty and personal courage — means that these voices can and mustbecome louder and stronger. From readers and the editorial board of The Chechen TimesA. Batayev
The Chechen Times3.02.2004 Message of Michaela Pohl to Olivier Dupuis Dear Olivier Dupuis! Thank you for being one of the only European politicians and publicfigures who consistently reminds Europe and the rest of the world of thetragedy of the Chechen people. Thank you for time and again demandinganswers regarding the silence and the lack of action by the Europeanparliament and by Europe’s governments. Thank you for calmly and joyfully calling for dialogue even with thosewho recently condemned you for your uncomfortable questions. Bystressing that this is an opportunity for all the Chechen people tolaunch a wide debate on the Chechen resistance you set an praiseworthyexample of how to participate in the political process and how tostruggle for human rights goals. Thank you for helping Chechen students find a place to study in France,for calling attention to the fate of Chechen refugees in Europe and inRussia. Your hunger strike in solidarity with the Chechen people is anact of great personal and civil courage, and your persistence in thepursuit of the goals you have named is admirable and moving. It is especially important and timely to call for worldwide attention tothe 60th anniversary of the Chechen deportation in 1944. The deportationis one of the nearly-forgotten crimes of the Stalin era and it is amongthe least understood causes for the bloodshed in Chechnya in the last 10years. Even less known is the heroic and brave resistance to the Sovietstate that the Chechen people put up in exile, the many ways in whichcountless individuals and communities fought the Soviet state that hadsent them to Kazakhstan and Siberia to die. In exile, the Chechensrefused to be humiliated, they refused to be slaves, they refused to lettheir children be indoctrinated, they refused to lose their faith andtheir traditions. On the contrary, they became stronger as a nation, and forced the Sovietstate to let them return home. They were unique among the people andnations who were victimized under Stalin in that they faced their fatewith resolve, refusing to give in, even if this demanded greatdiscipline and came at a great cost to many families and individuals.Indeed in their spirited response they were unique among all of thevictims of totalitarian regimes and of attempted genocide during the20th century, and their actions should be widely studied and imitated,knowledge of their history should be obligatory for every schoolchild onthe globe. You have shown similar resolve and discipline in many of your politicalactions. I am grateful for your continued and inspiring support of theChechen people. All the same, I hope that you will consider your healthand end this hungerstrike soon, so that you can continue to fight forthe Chechens and the many other important causes that you support moreeffectively. They, and we all need you in good health and spirits. Respectfully yours,Michaela PohlVassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NYJanuary 31, 2004
General staff chief gets medal as media says his days are numbered. Chief of the General Staff General Anatolii Kvashnin was awarded the Legion of Honor, France's highest decoration, in a ceremony at the French Embassy in Moscow on 27 January, Interfax reported. French Chief of the Defense Staff General Henri Bentegeat conferred the award on Kvashnin, who thanked him on behalf of Russia's armed forces. Military cooperation between the two countries has intensified, Kvashnin said, citing exchanges of officers for training and the joint development of the MiG-AT jet trainer. French Ambassador to Russia Jean Cadet noted that officials from the two countries will meet in Paris on 5 March to discuss French-Russian security cooperation. He also said that French Navy helicopter carrier "Jeanne D'Arc" will call at St. Petersburg in May. The ceremony honoring Kvashnin came amid media speculation that he might lose his job soon, rumors that were sparked by critical comments Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov made to the Academy of Military Sciences on 24 January. Ivanov said, among other things, that an "all-around strengthening of the role of the General Staff" is needed, "Kommersant-Daily" reported on 26 January. JB ----------------------------------------------- FYI: General Kvasnin was Northern Caucasus armed forces commander during the first Chechen war, and therefore de facto the one responsible of the elimination of the first trance of 100.000 civilians in Chechnya. He is also notorious for his proposals to use nuclear weapons against every "enemy of Russia". M.M. |