Ingush leader, foreign diplomats discuss aid to Chechen refugees
headlined "A meeting with representatives of UN donor-countries"
The president of Ingushetia, Murat Zyazikov, received representatives of donor-countries from the embassies of
Canada, Netherlands and Denmark at this residence today. Taking part in the meeting were: Sanne Leonhardt, second
secretary of the embassy of the Netherlands in the Russian Federation; Anders Christian Haugaard, minister-adviser of
the embassy of Denmark in the Russian Federation; Gabriel Constant, first secretary of the embassy of Canada in the
Russian Federation; Erin Dorgan, second secretary to the Canadian ambassador to the Russian Federation; Mr Stefan
Vassilev, permanent representative of the UN Development Programme in the Russian Federation and permanent
representative of the UN in the Russian Federation; and Mr Valentin Gatzinski, deputy UN coordinator for humanitarian
issues and UN regional coordinator.
Opening the meeting, the head of the republic noted that today there are estimated to be about 45,000 people on the
territory of Ingushetia. This figure includes forced migrants who are living in tent camps and in the private sector.
The president pointed out that in the matter of returning citizens to their former place of domicile, the humanitarian
organizations need to switch their basic work to Chechnya. Concerning the return process, the head of Ingushetia said
that "the republican leadership has been consistent in its position - people have been, are returning and will
continue to return to their homeland on a purely voluntary basis". At the same time, Zyazikov pointed out that
"one of the most important problems is providing the necessary conditions for those citizens who have expressed the
wish to remain in Ingushetia". The president expressed his willingness to accept some of the responsibility for
building homes for this category of citizens. Zyazikov also raised the problems of forced migrants of Ingush nationality
from Northern Ossetia, noting that they must be given humanitarian aid.
In the concluding part of his speech, the head of the republic thanked the representatives of the donor-countries for
their help and for carrying out specific programmes and expressed his readiness for further cooperation.
On behalf of all those present, the permanent coordinator of the UN in the Russian Federation, Stefan Vassilev,
expressed his gratitude "for the hospitality which is being afforded not only to the forced migrants but also to
the humanitarian organizations". "You were the one who always said that there is no timetable for the return
of the refugees, and thanks to your efforts, political wisdom and courage, this principle is being observed,"
Vassilev said, addressing the head of Ingushetia. He expressed willingness to continue to cooperate and render
assistance to the temporarily displaced people. Regarding the question of financial support for the project to build the
Magas international airport, he said that there would be help from their side in solving this question. Vassilev also
stressed that the permanent representation of the UN Development Programme would also be considering other
proposals.
[Signed] The press service of the president of the Republic of Ingushetia.
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