§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he envisages for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Chechnya. [146685]
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§ Mr. MacShaneWe believe that the OSCE could have a useful role to play in support of a political process in Chechnya. We regret that since the closure of the OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya at the end of 2002, it has been impossible for the OSCE Chairmanship in Office to agree with the Russian Federation on specific OSCE projects for Chechnya, with or without an OSCE presence on the ground in the region. If President Kadyrov showed clearly that he was prepared to work for reconciliation, to promote a genuinely open political process and to uphold human rights, the OSCE would be ready to assist, though any activities would have to take full account of the security situation in the region.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he(a) has made and (b) intends to make to the Russian authorities to persuade them (i) to cease compelling displaced Chechens to return to the war zone, (ii) to allow humanitarian organisations access to camps containing displaced Chechens, (iii) to avoid closing such camps without providing alternative accommodation and (iv) to issue invitations to UN specialist agencies to visit Chechnya. [146687]
§ Mr. RammellWe have bilaterally and with the EU repeatedly reminded the Russian Government of their obligations under the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees, stressing that all movements of internally displaced persons (IDPs) must be strictly voluntary. We have also stated that the dismantling of shelters, or the suspension of food, water and energy supplies, in our view constitutes a forced return.
The EU most recently raised concerns over IDPs during the recent Chechen Presidential elections. The EU, with UK support, issued a statement raising concerns over the conduct of the elections. The statement asked the Russian Government to provide assurances that the return of IDPs in Ingushetia and throughout the North Caucasus would be strictly voluntary. After the elections had taken place the EU issued a further statement, which the UK also supported. That statement expressed concern over the condition of refugees in neighbouring Ingushetia, repeating the EU's rejection of any attempts of involuntary return of refugees to Chechnya. It also called on the Russian authorities to renew their efforts to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Russian authorities in respect of(a) the mass bombardment of civilians in Chechnya, (b) the desirability of negotiations to bring the conflict to an end and (c) the applicability of internationally accepted standards of conduct to this conflict. [146709]
§ Mr. RammellWe regularly raise with the Russian Government UK concerns about the situation in Chechnya, in particular human rights. We have stressed that there is a need for an open political process, and that Russian security operations in Chechnya must uphold the rule of law and respect human rights. We most recently did so following the Chechen Presidential elections, when I issued a press statement on 16 October 2003 calling for newly elected President Kadyrov to 525W work for reconciliation, to promote a genuinely open political process and to uphold human rights. A copy of the press statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth website: www.fco.gov.uk//policy/news/ press-releases. The UK also supported EU statements issued on 26 September and 9 October 2003. copies of which are available on the Council of the Europe Union website address: http://register.consilium.eu.int.
§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the arraignment before an international criminal court of individuals suspected of war crimes in Chechnya. [146710]
§ Mr. RammellThe Russian Federation is not a State Party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Chechnya is currently therefore outside its jurisdiction. The UK has not called for an international tribunal on Chechnya as we believe such a move would be counter-productive. We continue to press Russia on the situation in Chechnya both bilaterally and multilaterally through the EU. UN and Council of Europe.