|
CHECHNYA: Open letter from Olivier Dupuis to the under-secretary of the Italian froeign Ministry Margherita Boniver Brussels, 27 January 2004 Honourable Under-secretary, If the truth be known, I am rather fed up - to say the least - with the attitude of European politicians (and also businessmen and journalists) towards the Chechen tragedy. Every now and then there is an upspring, albeit partial, of integrity or reason, like last Friday, for example, when I heard the French Foreign Minister, De Villepin, define what is happening in Chechnya as "an open war". The Chechen tragedy is so desperate precisely because it is denied, and for this reason when someone merely acknowledges its existence it is almost moving. Unfortunately, however, this happens increasingly seldom, and in any case it does not seem to lead the European Union or its Member States to follow up these words with actions. As far as Italy is concerned, I hoped for a moment that the Prime Minister would grasp the opportunity presented by Adriano Sofri's hunger strike to "rectify" the position he had previously assumed (the "myths" about Chechnya). This did not happen, unfortunately, or at least not in the way that would have been necessary. On the other hand, I remember well the statements you made during the same period on the political and current affairs programme presented by Giuliano Ferrara on La 7, especially your insistence on the fact that the Prime Minister's attitude did not preclude the possibility, or even the need, to deal with the "humanitarian" aspect of the Chechen question. I also know that you have taken an interest in the co-operation project co-ordinated by the Provincial Council of Bolzano with the Chechen Minister of Health, Dr Umar Khanbiev, whom you had the opportunity to meet during Ferrara's programme. Unfortunately, we must once again take note that due to the proliferation of bureaucratic obstacles and delays, this initiative - already planned last July - has still not got off the ground, with the result that most of these children, who had travelled to Baku in Azerbaijan, with all the attendant risks and expenses, in order to reach Bolzano from there, have been forced to return to Chechnya, their wounds untreated. On the "refugee" front, the situation, as you know, is disastrous. In Ingushetia the camps are being closed one by one and the refugees are forced to return to Chechnya, far from the eyes and the possible assistance of international NGOs. In Georgia and Azerbaijan Europe is almost completely absent, although for obvious reasons the presence of the European Union in those countries would not be as problematic as elsewhere. On the question of the welcome and the right of access to the European countries, over the last few years the representatives of the Maskhadov government have suffered from mean-spirited conduct which, to be frank, does not do Europe much credit. The Minister of Culture, Akhmed Zakaiev, was arrested and imprisoned in Denmark, then arrested again in England, on the basis of an application for extradition from Russia that the courts of Copenhagen and London judged to be no more than a pack of lies. The Foreign Minister, Ilyas Akhmadov, has been blocked in the United States for over 18 months simply because Russia has issued an arrest warrant on his head! Tired of the inertia of the American courts, in October Akhmadov applied to Sweden for asylum. Today, however, I have heard that the Swedish authorities will not come to a decision before July. I could continue to list similar examples of Soviet-style action or inaction. But I do not wish to bore you any further. The point is that these Chechen figures are the very people who are proposing and working (when they are allowed to work) for a political and peaceful solution to the Russo-Chechen tragedy. It is not only inadmissible, therefore, but also incomprehensible that they are not guaranteed the possibility to live and travel within the territory of the Union. All the more so in view of the fact that the Union could take a common initiative of this nature on the basis of its own Treaties (Art. 14 section 3 of the EC Treaty). For these reasons, and for others explained in the enclosed document (*), on 18 January I began a hunger strike. I would obviously be very glad to be able to meet you to discuss whether, and in what way, you can contribute to restore hope to the Chechens and dignity to Europe, with respect, at least, to more specifically humanitarian questions. As a result of your long political experience, you will undoubtedly know that most humanitarian catastrophe derive or germinate, as the poisoned fruit, from a political disaster, and that for this reason humanitarian "interference" itself, without representing any hostility, is an act of great political significance. Thank you in advance for your attention. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Olivier Dupuis (Radical Member of the European Parliament) (*) http://coranet.radicalparty.org/pressreleases/press_release.php?func=detail&par=6503 ===== Don't forget Chechnya! You can support the Chechen Minister of Foreign Affairs Peace Plan for the establishment of an interim United Nations administration in Chechnya by signing the appeal on the TRP site: www.radicalparty.org ===== Olivier Dupuis Member of the European Parliament http://www.radicalparty.org/ tel. +32 2 284 7198 fax +32 2 284 9198
CHECHNYA: Reply by Olivier Dupuis to the attacks from supporters of Chamil Bassaiev Brussels, 28 January 2004. The Kavkaz press agency, which is close to Chamil Bassaiev, has launched a bitter attack against the Radical MEP Olivier Dupuis, who has reached the 10th day of his hunger strike for Chechnya. In an editorial it accuses Dupuis of provocation against "ranks of the resistance" for having lodged a parliamentary question in which he asked the Council whether it appeared that Chamil Bassaiev had met the former chief of the Russian presidential administration Aleksandr Voloshin and a member of the Russian secret services (GRU) in France in July 1999, in other words one month before the invasion of Daghestan led by Bassaiev. Statement by Olivier Dupuis, Member of the European Parliament, Radical: "The attacks against me by followers of Mr Bassaiev are not only extremely significant but also particularly welcome. They are a sign of the growing nervousness among the supporters of Mr Bassaiev, those who support his political and military struggle. These attacks follow those aimed at the Peace Plan presented by Ilyas Akhmadov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Mr Maskhadov. The Akhmadov Peace Plan proposes the establishment of an interim United Nations administration in Chechnya, following the withdrawal of all Russian military and civilian forces and the disarmament of... all the Chechen separatist forces. Which is obviously why Mr Bassaiev does not like the Plan. These attacks are also welcome, however, in that they could become an opportunity for all the Chechen people to launch a wide debate on the Chechen resistance, especially on the radical differences that continue to separate the struggle of President Maskhadov and his supporters from that of Mr. Bassaiev and his men. These differences are not new. They were already evident at the time of the Chechen presidential elections of 1997 when Mr Maskhadov was elected by over 60% of the voters while the 'Jihadist' or 'Whahabite' option represented by Mr Bassaiev received only 20% of the votes cast. This debate is indispensable and urgent. At the same time there is no point hiding from the fact that it is also very difficult. For reasons related to the duty of 'holy union' in the face of the enemy, to military contingencies and also, for some people, to Mr Bassaiev's lasting aura as a heroic fighter in the first war, most of the Chechen people continue to reject all public criticism of their 'ally Bassaiev'. Now that the question that all Chechens must face is once again the dramatic problem of their survival both as individuals and as a people, they must find the courage to condemn unreservedly the foolish romanticism, the complete irresponsibility or the raving presumption of a political and military leader who believes or pretends to believe that he has managed since his unhappy experience in Abkhazia, ten years ago, to manipulate the secret services of a country like Russia. The reality is that Mr Bassaiev is the most predictable and therefore the most useful agent of a criminal association that uses Chechnya, from Moscow, to continue to occupy the halls of power." The appeal in support of the Akhmadov Plan for the establishment of an interim UN administration in Chechnya can be signed at: www.radicalparty.org ===== Olivier Dupuis Member of the European Parliament http://www.radicalparty.org/ tel. +32 2 284 7198 fax +32 2 284 9198
CHECHNYA: 11 MEPS call on Interpol to consider the arrest warrant against the Chechen minister Zakaiev to ben null and void Brussels, 29 January 2004. Catherine Lalumière, Vice-president of the EP (France, PSE), Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-president of the Green Group (France), Francis Wurtz, President of the GUE/NGL Group (France), Ari Vatanen (Finland, PPE-DE), Glyn Ford (United Kingdom, PSE), Fodé Sylla (France, GUE/NGL), Geneviève Fraisse (France, GUE/NGL), Giuseppe Di Lello (Italy, GUE/NGL), Harlem Désir (France, PSE), Gianfranco Dell'Alba and Olivier Dupuis (Italy, Radicals), sent a letter today to the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Ronald K. Noble, calling for assurances that in the light of the judicial rulings in Denmark and the United Kingdom, the international arrest warrant on the head of the Chechen Minister Akhmed Zakayev is considered to be null and void Last year a group of MEPs awarded the "Passport for Freedom" to Akhmed Zakayev, Minister of Culture in the Chechen government of President Maskhadov, shortly after the Danish authorities had rejected the application for extradition made by the Russian Federation, and as the British courts were in the process of dealing with a further application for extradition, which they in turn rejected a year later. Meanwhile, Olivier Dupuis has reached the 11th day of his hunger strike, undertaken to urge the governments of the democratic world, beginning with the Member States of the EU, to finally address the question of the Chechen genocide with determination, both from a political and a humanitarian point of view, and to call for new initiatives in support of the Peace Plan presented by the Chechen authorities for the establishment of an interim United Nations administration in Chechnya. ===== Don't forget Chechnya! You can support the Chechen Minister of Foreign Affairs Peace Plan for the establishment of an interim United Nations administration in Chechnya by signing the appeal on the TRP site: www.radicalparty.org ===== Olivier Dupuis Member of the European Parliament http://www.radicalparty.org/ tel. +32 2 284 7198 fax +32 2 284 9198
Zakayev in Germany, Russian Interpol sends Request MOSCOW, January 29 (RIA Novosti) - The National Central Interpol Bureau of the Russian interior ministry has sent a request to its German colleagues in view of the arrival of Chechen emissary Akhmed Zakayev to Germany. According to a source in the bureau, "the request was sent shortly after the media reported about Zakayev's arrival." "We asked the German side whether Zakayev was in Germany indeed. If yes, then it should meet its international obligations," the source said. At issue are the agreements between the Russian Federation and Germany on mutual extradition of persons on the international wanted list. According to the prosecutor general's office, Zakayev was placed on the international wanted list. Akhmed Zakayev arrived in Berlin on the invitation of the foreign policy speaker of the Social Democratic Party of Germany's faction in Bundestag, for political negotiations with representatives of all Bundestag factions, runs the press statement of the Vice Speaker of the SDPG faction for foreign policy in Bundestag, Markus Meckel. On Thursday Zakayev will participate in public discussions called Chechnya - Peace Process Options, the statement reads. Besides, according to the statement, Zakayev will be in Berlin till January 30. Last November, London Magistrates' Court refused to extradite the Chechen separatist emissary to the Russian Federation. The plaintiff, the Russian government, has leveled 13 charges against Zakayev. Among criminal violations are murder, terrorism and hostage taking. Akhmed Zakayev was detained on December 5, 2002 at London's Heathrow airport where he arrived from Denmark. His detention was based on the international warrant. However, the police confiscated his passport and released the Chechen separatist emissary on 50,000 Brishish pounds bail paid by British actress Vanessa Redgrave. In the past few months, Zakayev lived with his family in Chelsea, a prestigious part of London. Entrepreneur Boris Berezovsky paid for his lawyers and covered the travel expenses for the witnesses. Later on, the Home Office granted Zakayev a political asylum. In an interview with The Times, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that this decision came as a heavy blow to the numerous victims of terror in Chechnya and Russian cities. Russia sends Germany letter of inquiry about arrival of Akhmed Zakayev WORLD/CIS » :: Jan 29, 2004 Posted: 17:43 Moscow time (13:43 GMT) MOSCOW - The national bureau of Interpol in Russia has sent a letter of inquiry to Germany asking about Akhmad Zakayev's arrival in the country. As Echo Moscow radio station reports, the inquiry was sent as soon as Mr Zakayev's arrival in Germany became public knowledge. 'We asked Germany to confirm whether or not Mr Zakayev is in Germany. If he is, then we want Germany to meet its international obligations,' a spokesman said. This concerns a Russian-German agreement to hand over individuals who are on the international wanted list. In an interview with Echo Moscow Mr Zakayev confirmed that he is in Berlin. He said he was invited by Gert Weisskirchen, a member of the German Bundestag and speaker for the SPD on foreign policy. Mr Zakayev explained that he has official meetings and consultations scheduled in Germany. /Rosbalt/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2004-01-29 19:01
Moscow, Itar-Tass, 29 January: [Chechen envoy] Akhmed Zakayev's trip to Berlin pursues the goal of casting a shadow over the Russian leadership's efforts towards a political settlement of the situation in the Chechen Republic, the Russian Foreign Ministry's official spokesman, Aleksandr Yakovenko, said today in connection with the Chechen envoy's arrival in Germany at the invitation of a number of Bundestag deputies. The senior diplomat recalled that Zakayev is on the international wanted list. "Specific accusations of committing serious crimes" have been levelled against him. Yakovenko said "a mechanism for dialogue and cooperation has developed in Russian-German relations that allows the frank discussion of any problems, including so pressing a problem as combating international terrorism". "Representatives of Russia's federal authorities are open to such contacts with Germany politicians," he said. "It is precisely such logic in collaboration," Yakovenko believes, "that is constructive and in keeping with the current high level of cooperation between the two countries, but not in any way contacts with an extremely dubious figure who to no extent represents the interests of the Chechen people."
2004-01-29 19:48 BERLIN, JANUARY 29 (RIA Novosti correspondent Alexander Polotsky) - The arrival of emissary of Chechen militants Akhmed Zakayev in Berlin will not have a negative impact on relations between Russia and Germany, Sergei Krylov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Federal Republic of Germany said in an interview with the RIA Novosti correspondent. "Relations between our countries are marked by such high level of trustfulness that we can discuss any problems," the Ambassador said. "The significance of Zakayev's coming to Berlin at the invitation of certain German MPs should not be exaggerated, the Russian Ambassador noted. According to Sergei Krylov, the German government officials, including from the German Foreign Ministry, do not intend to meet with Zakayev. He also said that the German mass media "did not almost pay any attention" to the appearance of Zakayev in the German capital. The local mass media are aware of the positive developments in today's Chechnya, the ambassador said. Zakayev's arrival in Berlin is quite in line with the situation, when against the background of "obvious stabilization of the general situation in Chechnya whose population that is sick and tired of wars and confrontation, unequivocally enough displayed its will during the recent referendum and the elections of the head of Chechnya, certain forces are trying to interfere with this process, Sergei Krylov said. The people of Zakayev's type are "yesterday's people." Yes, they must be punished for their crimes, but in any case they are "yesterday's people," the Russian diplomat said.
Chechnya: open letter from Olivier Dupuis to the under-secretary of the Italian foreign ministry Margherita Boniver Brussels, 27 January 2004 Honourable Under-secretary, If the truth be known, I am rather fed up - to say the least - with the attitude of European politicians (and also businessmen and journalists) towards the Chechen tragedy. Every now and then there is an upspring, albeit partial, of integrity or reason, like last Friday, for example, when I heard the French Foreign Minister, De Villepin, define what is happening in Chechnya as "an open war". The Chechen tragedy is so desperate precisely because it is denied, and for this reason when someone merely acknowledges its existence it is almost moving. Unfortunately, however, this happens increasingly seldom, and in any case it does not seem to lead the European Union or its Member States to follow up these words with actions. As far as Italy is concerned, I hoped for a moment that the Prime Minister would grasp the opportunity presented by Adriano Sofri's hunger strike to "rectify" the position he had previously assumed (the "myths" about Chechnya). This did not happen, unfortunately, or at least not in the way that would have been necessary. On the other hand, I remember well the statements you made during the same period on the political and current affairs programme presented by Giuliano Ferrara on La 7, especially your insistence on the fact that the Prime Minister's attitude did not preclude the possibility, or even the need, to deal with the "humanitarian" aspect of the Chechen question. I also know that you have taken an interest in the co-operation project co-ordinated by the Provincial Council of Bolzano with the Chechen Minister of Health, Dr Umar Khanbiev, whom you had the opportunity to meet during Ferrara's programme. Unfortunately, we must once again take note that due to the proliferation of bureaucratic obstacles and delays, this initiative - already planned last July - has still not got off the ground, with the result that most of these children, who had travelled to Baku in Azerbaijan, with all the attendant risks and expenses, in order to reach Bolzano from there, have been forced to return to Chechnya, their wounds untreated. On the "refugee" front, the situation, as you know, is disastrous. In Ingushetia the camps are being closed one by one and the refugees are forced to return to Chechnya, far from the eyes and the possible assistance of international NGOs. In Georgia and Azerbaijan Europe is almost completely absent, although for obvious reasons the presence of the European Union in those countries would not be as problematic as elsewhere. and the right of access to the European countries, over the last few years the representatives of the Maskhadov government have suffered from mean-spirited conduct which, to be frank, does not do Europe much credit. The Minister of Culture, Akhmed Zakaiev, was arrested and imprisoned in Denmark, then arrested again in England, on the basis of an application for extradition from Russia that the courts of Copenhagen and London judged to be no more than a pack of lies. The Foreign Minister, Ilyas Akhmadov, has been blocked in the United States for over 18 months simply because Russia has issued an arrest warrant on his head! Tired of the inertia of the American courts, in October Akhmadov applied to Sweden for asylum. Today, however, I have heard that the Swedish authorities will not come to a decision before July. I could continue to list similar examples of Soviet-style action or inaction. But I do not wish to bore you any further. The point is that these Chechen figures are the very people who are proposing and working (when they are allowed to work) for a political and peaceful solution to the Russo-Chechen tragedy. It is not only inadmissible, therefore, but also incomprehensible that they are not guaranteed the possibility to live and travel within the territory of the Union. All the more so in view of the fact that the Union could take a common initiative of this nature on the basis of its own Treaties (Art. 14 section 3 of the EC Treaty). For these reasons, and for others explained in the enclosed document (*), on 18 January I began a hunger strike. I would obviously be very glad to be able to meet you to discuss whether, and in what way, you can contribute to restore hope to the Chechens and dignity to Europe, with respect, at least, to more specifically humanitarian questions. As a result of your long political experience, you will undoubtedly know that most humanitarian catastrophe derive or germinate, as the poisoned fruit, from a political disaster, and that for this reason humanitarian "interference" itself, without representing any hostility, is an act of great political significance. Thank you in advance for your attention. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Olivier Dupuis (Radical Member of the European Parliament) |