11.05.2000
TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, IGOR IVANOV, TO THE 106TH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON "THE RUSSIAN CONTRIBUTION TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AND PACE RECOMMENDATION 1456 (2000) ON THE SITUATION IN THE CHECHEN REPUBLIC" (STRASBOURG, MAY 11, 2000) ¹ 397397-11-5-2000
Unofficial translation from Russian
TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, IGOR IVANOV, TO THE 106TH SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON "THE RUSSIAN CONTRIBUTION TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE AND PACE RECOMMENDATION 1456 (2000) ON THE SITUATION IN THE CHECHEN REPUBLIC"
(Strasbourg, May 11, 2000)
Esteemed Mr. Chairman,
Esteemed Mr. Secretary General,
Esteemed colleagues
Several days ago the international community and, on a particularly large scale, Europe marked the 55th anniversary of the victory over Hitler's fascism. That great event will forever remain in the memory of our peoples. We should remember the lessons of history if we want to prevent a repetition of the greatest tragedy of the 20th century that was World War II. It is only by uniting in the face of a common disaster that our fathers and grandfathers managed to achieve victory.
Europe is our common home. Our country gave more than 20 million of its sons and daughters for the sake of peace and prosperity of the European continent.
And today, as it enters the 21st century, Europe finds itself at a crossroads. We will either be able to benefit from the end of the Cold War and build a genuinely united and secure Europe or deep dividing lines and a forest of missiles will again appear on our continent and mutual alienation and suspicion will prevail. These are not ungrounded fears. The plans of deploying a national ABM system of the US presuppose the involvement in it of European states with all the consequences that entails.
Europe is today confronted by other very complex problems such as aggressive separatism, terrorism, fascism, drug and arms trafficking, uncontrolled migration, etc. It is our common misfortune and we should unite in meeting these new challenges and threats to European security and stability.
Russia contributed to the future of Europe its dearest asset, the lives of its people, in the struggle against fascism.
We have genuine faith in a united big Europe.
Russia participated in the all-European process from the outset.
Russia has fully destroyed its medium- and shorter-range missiles in Europe and concluded the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe.
Russia insisted on and secured the adoption of a substantive European Security Charter at the OSCE summit in Istanbul.
Finally, Russia has voluntarily joined the Council of Europe so that this organization could implement its principles on the whole of our continent.
The cooperation between Russia and the Council of Europe has covered a significant path during these years. It would be hard to name an area in the Council's activities in which the Russian Federation is not involved.
Our country is already a signatory to 38 European documents. Next to be signed by Russia is the revised European Social Charter. The Government has already passed a decision to the effect.
We take an active part in the efforts aimed at further improvement of the activities of the Council of Europe. The Russian representative did some concrete work at the "committee of wise persons" whose report on the reform of the Council we are to approve today.
All this proves that in Russia, the Council of Europe has acquired a responsible and constructive partner. For our part we would like to count on a similar approach of our partners, especially on the problems that are vital for us.
The settlement of the situation in the North Caucasus is precisely such a problem for Russia. After militant separatists violently seized power in the Chechen Republic it effectively fell into the hands of criminal clans. Arbitrariness, lawlessness and slave trade became widespread. For several years Chechnya dropped out of the domain not only of the Russian Constitution but of any principles and norms of civilized society.
The armed aggression of the forces of international terrorism against Dagestan, which neighbors on Chechnya, the explosions of residential houses in Moscow and some other cities in the country have overstretched patience. That is why the resolute line of the federal authorities for putting an end to the bulwark of international terrorism in the Chechen Republic has enjoyed active support of the majority of the Russian population.
For all that, we are acting in a highly open manner without concealing our plans and moves from the international community. Any impartial politician would confirm that no state has ever or anywhere displayed such a high degree of openness and transparency in the solution of its internal problem. It is not our fault that not everyone has yet understood us correctly.
But I would like to say with all responsibility that we will firmly move towards restoring peace on the Chechen land. This is the focus of the main efforts of the President and the Government of Russia. For, as President Vladimir Putin has said, it is our misfortune and our pain. We are talking about our own land and our own people, the citizens of Russia with whom we are to live together for many years.
So, we are more interested than anyone in peace and harmony in the Chechen Republic, in the restoration of legality and mutual confidence there. The Russian leadership pays special attention to ensuring respect of human rights and civil freedoms in Chechnya. We have stated clearly that all the facts of human rights violations and abuses in the course of the anti-terrorist operation, whoever perpetrated them, are being thoroughly investigated and, if confirmed, the culprits will be punished with due severity of the law. A special representative of the Russian President for human rights in the Chechen Republic has been appointed. All the details connected with the work of Council of Europe experts in his office have been practically agreed. A national non-governmental commission to investigate violations and respect of human rights in the North Caucasus has been set up headed by former Justice Minister P.V. Krashenninikov. The Justice Ministry of Russia is preparing to deploy a permanent station of independent lawyers on the territory of detention centers in the Chechen Republic.
The list can be continued. We actively cooperate with international and European organizations. They include the specialized agencies of the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the OSCE, the European Union and others.
The region was more than once visited by various delegations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Representatives of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture visited Chechnya twice, in March and again in April. In accordance with their mandate and their wishes they had an opportunity to look into the questions that interested them. Moreover, the Russian side made an unprecedented move in agreeing to the publication of an interim report on the first trip of the Committee's mission. Competent Russian representatives will continue to pay attention to the findings and recommendations of the Committee.
A regional seminar on federalism was successfully held in Pyatigorsk at the end of April under the aegis of the Council of Europe. Next there will be a seminar on "Democracy, Supremacy of the Law and Human Rights."
By the way, the Russian side constantly informs its European partners on all these steps. We have respect for the opinion of European parliamentarians. We are not opting for confrontation. We were and will remain open to dialogue.
Mr. Chairman,
The year 2000 is not solely or largely a calendar change for Russia. A new page in the modern history of our country is being turned. The new President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has been elected. Elections for the State Duma have been held. The country is firmly on course towards further reform and democratic transformations.
We want:
- Russia to be a free, prosperous, strong and civilized state;
- our citizens to be proud of their country;
- our country to be respected in the world.
And we will achieve that goal.
Russia is prepared, as a reliable partner, together with the whole international community to build a stable and secure world in a responsible manner. A world of the 21st century.
Thank you.
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