§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to respond to the resolution adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Thursday 29 June in Strasbourg concerning Russia, Chechnya and the Committee of Ministers. [HL3167]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalWe share the serious concerns about the conflict in Chechnya expressed in the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly Resolution of 29 June and in the earlier recommendations. The Committee of Ministers gave careful consideration to all aspects of the Assembly's recommendations and concluded that the international community's objectives were better pursued through engaging critically with Russia rather than by taking action against it in the European Court of Human Rights or by suspending and thereby isolating it. We continue to take every opportunity to impress on Russia the need to comply fully with its human rights obligations and the need for a political dialogue as the only way to secure a sustainable end to the conflict.