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EU distances itself from Berlusconi`s remarks on Chechnya and Yukos

IRNA

Brussels, Nov 7, IRNA -- The European Commission, EU`s executive 
branch, Friday clearly distanced itself from remarks made by Italian 
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Rome yesterday defending Russia`s 
actions in Chechnya. 
"We do not share the view of Prime Minister Berlusconi when it 
comes to the situation of Yukos nor that of the present situation or 
past deeds in Chechnya," Commission spokesman Reijo Kemppinen 
told a press briefing in Brussels. 
Speaking after an EU-Russian summit in Rome Thursday, Berlusconi, 
the current President of the EU, blamed the media for distorting the 
facts in Chechnya. 
"The truth is that there are often distortions in the press, in 
Italy as abroad. It`s the same thing as far as Chechnya and the Yukos 
story is concerned," Berlusconi said, referring to the arrest of the 
head of Russia`s Yukos oil giant, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, on fraud 
charges. 
The Commission spokesman said that the Commission raised the issue
of Chechnya in Thursday`s summit in Rome. 
"We put our end of the position. The Commission`s primary interest
is that of ensuring that humanitarian aid reach all people suffering 
from the situation in Chechnya. 
"We continue to have the same problems with the Russian 
authorities as we have had for the long time already not having enough
security for the human aid workers, not having access to the radio 
network and number of other problems," said Kemppinen. 
Asked why human rights issues and the problem of Chechnya were not
mentioned in the final communique of the EU-Russia summit, Kemppinen 
replied that if there is no agreement on certain issues no reference 
is made in the conclusions. 
On the Yokas affair, the spokesman said it was an internal 
judicial matter for Russia, but that it also has wider implications in
that the European business wants to see that certain security of 
investment is guaranteed in Russia. 
"This case has raised concern in this respect," he added. 
NK/214 
End