DATE=2/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHECHNYA / RED CROSS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259261
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The International Committee of the Red
Cross, the I-C-R-C, has renewed its appeal to
Russian authorities for permission to visit
detainees and to assist civilian victims of the
fighting in Chechnya. Lisa Schlein has a report
from Geneva.
TEXT: The International Committee of the Red
Cross was forced to leave Chechnya in November
when Russia began its military offensive. Susan
Bergier of the Red Cross says the agency has been
trying ever since to get back into Chechnya to
help the victims of the war.
/// BERGIER ACT ///
It's not because of all the reports that
are coming out now that we are mounting
pressure on the Russian authorities for
(visiting detainees). This has been a
priority for the I-C-R-C ever since the
beginning of the crisis.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Bergier says the Red Cross does not know how
many people are being detained by the Russian
authorities. But she says the agency considers
it a priority to be able to visit the places of
detention. She says the agency will continue to
press the Russian government for permission to do
so.
Since the Red Cross is not present in Chechnya,
she says it is not able to comment on reports
of alleged atrocities. However, the United
Nations' top human rights official is under no
such constraints.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Geneva,
Mary Robinson (U-N high commissioner for human
rights) criticizes Moscow for blocking access to
victims of the Chechen war. She says there is
mounting evidence of serious human rights
violations and expresses concern over, what she
calls, the "catastrophic situation" facing
civilians in Chechnya. She cites allegations of
civilian executions and rapes of Chechen women by
Russian forces.
Ms. Robinson says she has received reports from
the International Committee of the Red Cross,
which indicate that tens of thousands of
civilians in Grozny have little water, food and
medical care. She says the Red Cross reports
that numerous captured people are in need of
protection.
Susan Bergier of the International Committee of
the Red Cross agrees that reports of human rights
abuse are disturbing. But she repeats she cannot
comment on a situation that the agency has not
seen for itself.
/// 2ND BERGIER ACT ///
So we are very preoccupied, very worried
about the situation inside the Chechen
Republic. We are determined to work there
as soon as possible. But, we are not here
to comment on these reports. We worry
about them and we would like to be there as
close as possible to the people who are in
need of assistance.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Bergier says the Red Cross needs security
guarantees from the Russian authorities and
Chechens before sending its staff back to the
republic. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/KL
17-Feb-2000 08:34 AM EDT (17-Feb-2000 1334 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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