14 February 2004 12:54
EU AND RUSSIA DISAGREEMENT OVER HUMANITARIAN AID OFFICE IN NORTH CAUCASUS
The European Commission, the biggest supplier of humanitarian aid to the Chechen population, is keen for its
humanitarian office ECHO to open a branch in Nazran, the capital of Ingushetia, which neighbours troubled Chechnya. But
while the EU and Russia may agree on the principle of opening such an office in the North Caucasus, they evidently
disagree about the precise location. EU sources say the preference for Ingushetia, where there are still many
internally-displaced persons (IDPs), is based on both aid needs and the prevailing security situation in Chechnya. EU
Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Poul Nielson criticised back in December the closure by the Russian and
Ingush authorities of a third refugee camp in Ingushetia, recalling among other things that "people displaced by
the conflict in Chechnya should be allowed to stay in Ingushetia if they do not want to return yet. They should enjoy
protection and assistance there".
For its part, Russia would evidently prefer an ECHO office to be opened in Chechnya itself. According to the Russian
Mission to the EU, "the Russian side has always been grateful to the European Union for the humanitarian assistance
to Chechnya and never objected to the activities of humanitarian organisations there. The fact is that we always
insisted that they should be present and acting in Chechnya itself. The active process of the return of refugees to
their homes in Chechnya is under way. In 2003, about 20,000 people returned to the places of their permanent residence
on a strictly voluntary basis. Therefore deliveries of construction materials, food and bare essentials for their needs
by the humanitarian organisations directly to the territory of the Chechen Republic would support the efforts of the
Russian authorities and will be highly appreciated. We also do not have any problems with a possible opening of the ECHO
office in Chechnya".
-- An Annex to the European Commission's Communication to the European Parliament and Council on relations with
Russia says that "Russian authorities should grant ECHO the authorisation to open a branch office in Nazran. Russia
should facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, by lifting all unnecessary restrictions on access to Chechnya,
allowing NGOs to use VHF frequencies and actively providing security for aid operations, where appropriate. Facilitating
the delivery of humanitarian aid is closely linked to any expansion of EU assistance".
--
[European Report] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
