Neue Zürcher Zeitung
July 6, 2003
Politician faces up to Chechnya challenge
Swiss parliamentarian Andreas Gross has been appointed the European Council’s
new rapporteur on the political situation in Chechnya.
swissinfo caught up with him as he prepares to take on what is considered to
be the most difficult dossier at the European Council.
The European Council is the only international body represented in Chechnya,
which has been ravaged by conflict since 1994.
Relations between the European Council and the Russian delegation have been
strained for years because of the situation in the Caucasian republic.
Last month Chechen officials and Russian government representatives launched
discussions on how much autonomy Chechnya can exercise while remaining part
of Russia.
But despite Kremlin claims that peace is returning to the country, a Russian
general said on Wednesday that rebels continue to kill and wound security forces
on a daily basis.
swissinfo: What is your mandate?
Andreas Gross: My task is to find out how the killing and misery in Chechnya
can be brought to an end. As a member of the European Council, Russia has a
duty to uphold human rights and to resolve conflicts according to state laws.
Different parties are ignoring this duty in Chechnya.
Chechnya is probably one of the biggest and saddest problems on the European
continent and is certainly one of the most difficult missions that one can take
on in Strasbourg. I will give it my best.
swissinfo: What exactly will you be doing?
A.G.: Next week I am going to Moscow and will listen to the different positions
and theories about how you can solve the conflict politically. At the end of
August, I am then going to Chechnya for the first time in three and a half years.
While there, I will also try to sound out ideas from the different parties involved.
Furthermore, I will regularly write reports in order to inform the assembly
about how the process is progressing. At the moment, the mandate is due to last
two years. I hope to be in Chechnya at least once every three months.
swissinfo: What is the situation like in Chechnya at present?
A.G.: Civilians, Russian soldiers and Chechen guerrillas are dying on a daily
basis.
Most of the Chechens feel like they are the meat in the sandwich between the
Russian armed forces on one hand and the militant guerrillas on the other. The
latter is partly involved in criminal activity and seldom represents the interests
of the Chechen majority. (*)
I would like to help these people who are exposed to violence through no fault
of their own.
swissinfo: How can the European Council have any influence there?
A.G.: We need to listen, think things through together, and then discuss them
openly. We also need to publicise the suffering, the ways out of it, as well
as the quest for understanding.
After the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) was thrown
out, the European Council was left as the only international organisation whose
presence is even tolerated. It is primarily about being able to talk about what
you see and what you think.
swissinfo: Do you think there is the will to find a political solution?
A.G.: That is exactly the question my consultative talks in Moscow next week
are going to address. Russia’s president Putin told me three years ago
that he is aware only political solutions to the problem exist; so that is one
basis to work on.
Most of the Russian parliamentarians consider themselves to be a part of Europe
and want to be a European nation-state. But for that you have to pay a certain
price, in so far that European standards are upheld.
On the other hand, you have in Russia, as everywhere, hardliners who do not
wish to put an international spotlight on Chechnya, and who believe the conflict
is simply a domestic matter.
swissinfo: Parliamentary elections are being held in December and presidential
ones in March. Do the right conditions for voting exist?
A.G.: After the acceptance of the new constitution in March, the next thing
is the functioning of democracy. It is going to be one of my jobs to make sure
the national elections in Chechnya are conducted correctly. Chechen citizens
must be able to really participate in these elections.
But as long as violence is so prevalent and people are killed every day, the
prerequisites for a democratic system of thought and action, not to mention
a proper election campaign, remain truly poor.
swissinfo: Do you have any ideas as to how the situation can be resolved or
at least improved?
A.G.: I recently submitted a report to the European Council which described
how peace has been achieved in countries granted autonomy, while respecting
the statehood of all parties involved.
Chechnya is a case in point. You don’t need to become independent in order
to become self- determined. This point of view might enable a peaceful resolution
which allows both the self- determination of Chechnya, as well as respecting
the sovereign integrity of Russia.
swissinfo-interview: Hansjörg Bolliger (translation: Tania Peitzker; the
interview was conducted last Wednesday)
Copyright © Swissinfo / Neue Zürcher Zeitung AG
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Comment:
* Whereas the former is not "involved in criminal activities" and is supposed to "represents the interests of the Chechen (or Russian) majority"?!? Also the stones know that Russian forces are deeply involved in any possible and conceivable forms of criminal activity and in the kidnapping business, and certainly not to favor Russian's citizens well being. Mr. Gross are you joking?!?