§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on Civil and Political Rights, together with the fundamental principles of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, may have been breached in respect of Chechnya and the Chechens. [HL4474]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalIt is for the relevant treaty monitoring bodies formally to determine whether there has been a breach of the conventions listed by the noble Lord in the conduct of the conflict in Chechnya. Nonetheless we are deeply concerned at the level of civilian casualties and the plight of refugees.
140WABilaterally and with EU partners, we have urged the Russians to avoid civilian casualties and to permit the free movement of individuals wishing to leave the conflict zone, in line with international human rights law and humanitarian principles.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether issues arising from Chechnya and Dagestan have already been raised at meetings of the Permanent Council and Senior Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. [HL4475]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalIssues arising from Chechnya and Dagestan have been raised at a variety of fora within the OSCE in Vienna, including the Permanent Council, the Forum for Security Cooperation and the Joint Consultative Group. These fora have addressed political, arms control, and humanitarian aspects of Russian activities in Chechnya. In recent years the Senior Council has only met as the Economic Forum.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe or the High Commission for Minorities have received any request for help from the Russian Federation in respect of Chechnya. [HL4476]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalNeither the OSCE nor its High Commissioner on National Minorities has received a request for help from the Russian Federation in respect of Chechnya. The UK, along with EU partners, have been urging the Russians to accept OSCE offers of good offices. The Russians agreed on 2 November to accept an OSCE mission to the region. We hope to see the mission take place as soon as possible.