DATE=3/13/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / COUNCIL OF EUROPE (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260133
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Council of Europe has accused Russian
troops and Chechen rebels of war crimes and has
condemned Russia's destruction of the Chechen capital,
Grozny. V-O-A's Peter Heinlein in Moscow reports the
group of European lawmakers made their comments after
a fact-finding mission in Chechnya.
TEXT: The group's leader, Frank Judd of Britain, says
Russia is likely to lose its membership in the Council
of Europe next month unless it takes urgent action to
investigate alleged military atrocities in Chechnya.
Mr. Judd and the parliamentary delegation spent two-
days touring the region. He says the lawmakers were
shocked by what they saw.
/// JUDD ACT ONE ///
We were deeply disturbed by the distress and the
trauma suffered by civilians as a result of
indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force
by the Russian military.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Judd says there is also evidence of atrocities by
Chechen fighters.
/// JUDD ACT TWO ///
We believe that serious human-rights violations
have taken place in Chechnya on both sides.
Eyewitnesses have given us accounts of arbitrary
killings and harassment by Russian forces, as
well as totally unacceptable acts of violence by
Chechen fighters.
/// END ACT ///
The British lawmaker says he can think of no excuse
for what he calls - the systematic destruction - of
the Chechen capital, Grozny.
/// JUDD ACT THREE ///
Frankly, I find it beyond comprehension that at
the beginning of the 21st century, a European
city like Grozny could be systematically
destroyed by the forces of its own government.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// Russia's state-run television on Monday
largely ignored the Council of Europe's findings.
Viewers saw nothing of Mr. Judd's criticisms.
Instead, they heard comments of Russian lawmaker
Sergei Rogozin, who accompanied the European
delegation.
Mr. Rogozin is chairman of the foreign affairs
committee of the lower house of Russia's parliament.
He accused the foreign visitors of making up their
minds beforehand, and rejecting evidence that failed
to fit their conclusions.
/// OPT ROGOZIN ACT- IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
He says the delegation was, in his words - looking on
purpose for some violations, especially on human
rights issues. /// END OPT ///
The Council of Europe came close to suspending
Russia's membership in January, but agreed to postpone
its decision until April after the Kremlin promised to
investigate allegations of war crimes. But after his
tour of Chechnya, a visibly shaken Mr. Judd says it is
time to back up those promises.
He told reporters his delegation has heard statements
of intent. What we are looking for now - he said - is
evidence of significant and substantive action.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH/RAE
13-Mar-2000 12:28 PM EDT (13-Mar-2000 1728 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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