§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
What they have done to implement the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Istanbul Summit resolution towards the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Chechnya. [HL1693]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalHer Majesty's Government, acting in concert with other Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) participating states, has repeatedly pressed the Russian Government to honour the language in the summit declaration on the conflict in Chechnya. The Russian Government has so far rejected calls to use the good offices of the OSCE to find a political solution to the conflict. However, it recently allowed 135WA the head of the OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya to visit the region to assess whether the security conditions would permit the early return of the group. The OSCE Chairman in Office is expected to visit the region later this month.
§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they regard Maskhadov's government as the only legitimate authority of Chechnya. [HL1694]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalWe recognise Chechnya as an integral part of the Russian Federation. The UK position is shared by our international partners. President Maskhadov was elected in 1997 in a process recognised as democratic by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Foreign Secretary has met any Chechen officials since the start of the present conflict in Chechnya. [HL1695]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Foreign Secretary has not met any Chechen officials since the start of the present conflict in Chechnya.
§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the intentions of the Russian Federation to hold Russian Presidential elections within the territory of Chechnya at the time of war activities within the area. [HL1696]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Russian Presidential elections, held on 26 March, were monitored by observers acting for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). An OSCE mission that visited the region prior to the elections concluded that, given the security situation, normal conditions for voting did not exist in Chechnya. The OSCE did not monitor voting in Chechnya, but preliminary results show a turn-out of 465,000 of those registered to vote in Chechnya—approximately 65 per cent of the electorate, which is close to the national turn-out.
§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they support suspension or even exclusion of Russia from the Council of Europe due to the violation of human rights by the Russian Military in Chechnya. [HL1697]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalWe expect Russia, like all Council of Europe members, to meet its obligations. The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly passed a recommendation on 27 January calling on Russia to meet several conditions related to human rights in Chechnya. The Assembly will meet on 4-7 April to assess Russian progress towards meeting the conditions. It would be premature to make a judgment on Russian progress before all the evidence is presented.
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§ Lord Ahmedasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the face of violation of human rights in Chechnya by the Russian authorities, the principle of territorial integrity should not be applied in the case of Chechnya. [HL1718]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalBoth my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary have raised allegations of human rights violations in Chechnya at the highest level in Russia. We have urged a full investigation of these allegations. But the Government recognise Chechnya as an integral part of the territory of the Russian Federation. The UK position is shared by our international partners.