Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-10-22-Speech-3-137"
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"en.20031022.6.3-137"2
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"Mr President, we have already discussed Chechnya on a number of occasions in this House, and it is important to mention this.
At the same time, I should like to underline how right the two-track policy is with regard to Russia. After all, we are dealing with entirely different cooperation possibilities, which may, in turn, have an effect on Russia's political culture. It is precisely in this political culture of Russia that Chechnya fits in as an area where indeed, a failed state was created at one time – a kind of black hole in the Russian federation, where Russia had no choice but to act. The way in which this is done, however, fills us with disgust.
We should consider whether it would not be possible for us – maybe in the person of Mr Solana – to criticise Russia's military intervention in that country to such a degree that Russia would feel forced to change its strategy.
The military training, the system of that military apparatus and the strategy used in Chechnya all fit into the old pattern of ruling with a rod of iron. This only breeds terrorism and results in desperate suicide acts. These are events that we have witnessed from relatively close-by in Chechnya. If we ask the acting commanding officer whether there is an alternative to this guerrilla warfare and whether there is any knowledge about this alternative method, his response is that this knowledge is available at the ministry, but he questions what good that is to them on the ground.
This shows that the Russians cannot appreciate why we in Europe make such a fuss about Chechnya. Despite this, it is extremely important for us to keep an eye on this aspect, because one of the areas that has been mentioned by the President-in-Office of the Council, namely that of internal security, is, of course, directly connected to it. We must not, therefore, forget Chechnya. I share the view of the others who say: Mr President-in-Office of the Council, with all due respect for you when you draw attention to the case of Arjan Erkel – in respect of whom it would be fantastic if you were able to solve it during your presidency – but you have to remember that Chechnya is more tragic than you have depicted it.
Mr Patten is right: the security situation over there is abominable; even aid workers will certainly not be able to operate in safety. That is why it is of vital importance that we pull out all the stops to see whether we can persuade the military, and hence the politicians, in Russia, to change the way it behaves in Chechnya."@en1
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