MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
11.1.2006
pursuant to Rule 103(2) of the Rules of Procedure
by Cecilia Malmström
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on Chechnya after the elections and civil society in Russia
B6‑0032/2006
European Parliament resolution on Chechnya after the elections and civil society in Russia
The European Parliament,
– having regard to the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Russia, which entered into force on 1 December 1997,
– having regard to its previous reports and resolutions on Russia and on the situation in Chechnya, in particular the resolutions of 10 April 2002[1], 16 January 2003[2], 3 July 2003[3], 26 May 2005[4] and 15 December 2005[5],
– having regard to the outcome of the EU-Russia summits, in particular the decision at the EU-Russia Summit in The Hague in 2005 to hold a regular dialogue on human rights,
– having regard to the outcome of the elections to the Chechen People's Assembly in November 2005 and to the Russian attempts to give increased responsibility to regional authorities,
– having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas over the last decade war, terrorism and lawlessness have left hundreds of thousands of people dead, including thousands of children, created a massive refugee crisis and seen Russian security forces and the Russian-led Chechen administration stand accused of serious and persistent human rights violations,
B. whereas the November elections to the People's Assembly are part of attempts to strengthen the Chechen authorities in the fight against the separatists, but meanwhile the overall situation is marked by continued terror and violence, lawlessness, instability and insecurity,
C. whereas the rise of local militias, often made up of former rebel fighters, further complicates the political and security situation and undermines the legitimacy of the November elections,
D. whereas NGOs and human rights activists continue to be harassed and have their work hindered or stopped by the Russian and Chechen authorities,
E. whereas independent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and non-profit organisations (NPOs) are the key to developing a strong and effectively functioning civil society and whereas non-governmental organisations are now present in very large numbers in Russia, ranging from children's charities to neighbourhood associations and from providers of shelters for the homeless to consumer groups,
F. whereas freedom of association is a fundamental human right and of great importance in a democratic society,
1. Reiterates its strong condemnation of all acts of terrorism, for which there can be no justification, and underlines that peaceful means of conflict resolution are the only legitimate ones;
2. Calls on the Russian authorities to renew efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict; welcomes reports that no major incidents occurred during the electoral process, but underlines that the overall security situation in Chechnya remains so unstable that the legitimacy of the outcome is seriously undermined; hopes, however, that these elections will be a first step towards a solution to the conflict and contribute to the stabilisation of the region;
3. Calls for a political solution which involves all democratic forces in Chechnya and that guarantees to all those residing in or returning to Chechnya a real right to life, freedom and security and respect for cultural and national identity and dignity;
4. Expresses its deep concern over the continued lawlessness, including within the ranks of federal and local government forces and militias; calls for an immediate end to impunity and violence on both sides;
5. Reiterates its expressed concern that human rights activists continue to face attacks on their freedom and security and urges the Russian and Chechen authorities to put an end to this harassment; calls on Russia to grant independent media, international and domestic humanitarian organisations and human rights monitors full access to Chechnya and to assist as far as possible in securing their safe working conditions;
6. Reiterates its recommendation that the Council more actively pursue a political solution and that the EU provide increased assistance, deplores the fact that the Council has not acted on these recommendations and believes that they remain valid and that the Council should take action; calls therefore on the Council and the Presidency-in-Office to make further efforts to assist Russia in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict - including an offer of EU mediation; underlines that the EU must speak with one voice and adhere to agreed lines on Russia;
7. Reiterates its position that progress in developing the so-called four common spaces between the EU and Russia must be made in parallel with increased economic cooperation matched by attention paid to human rights, democracy and justice and home affairs;
8. Calls on the Austrian and Finnish Presidencies to raise the issue of respect for democracy and human rights at the next EU-Russia summits and to give the EU-Russia human rights dialogue a more prominent role;
9. Welcomes the Russian Federation's request for the advice of the Council of Europe on the proposed amendments; fully endorses the recommendations made by the Council of Europe in its provisional opinion and calls on the Russian Federation to take those recommendations fully into account;
10. Reiterates its support for substantial EU assistance for reconstruction in Chechnya when a solution has been found;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the President and State Duma of the Russian Federation, the Chechen authorities, the OSCE and the Council of Europe.