Evaluation of the prospects of a political solution to the conflict in the Chechen Republic

Doc. 9820

3 June 2003

Evaluation of the prospects of a political solution to the conflict in the Chechen Republic

Recommendation 1593 (2003)

Reply from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 840^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (28 May 2003)

1. The Committee of Ministers has examined with close attention Recommendation 1593 (2003) of the Parliamentary Assembly.

2. The Committee of Ministers recalls its long-standing view that there can be no alternative to a political solution in the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation and wishes to refer to its reply adopted on 28 May 2003 to Recommendation 1600 (2003) of the Parliamentary Assembly on the human rights situation in the Chechen Republic. Several elements of that reply are also relevant to the Assembly’s Recommendation 1593 (2003).

3. In accordance with paragraph 4 of the recommendation, the Committee of Ministers duly brought the Assembly’s Resolution 1315 (2003) to the attention of the Government of the Russian Federation. The Deputies have explored ways for expeditious action on that text within the framework of their monthly discussion on interim reports by the Secretary General under the item “Contribution of the Council of Europe towards restoration of the rule of law, respect of human rights and democracy in Chechnya”.

4. Since the adoption of Resolution 1315 (2003) and Recommendation 1593 (2003), these discussions have had to take into account a number of fresh developments, in particular:

a. the adoption by a referendum held on 23 March 2003 of the Constitution of the Chechen Republic and of the laws of presidential and parliamentary election;

b. the decision of President Putin (Order No. 228rp of 7 May 2003) aimed at strengthening a social entente in the Chechen Republic by creating a working group entrusted with the submission to the President before 1 October 2003 of proposals for a draft Treaty on division of competence and powers between the Federal authorities and the Chechen Republic;

c. an upsurge of terrorist attacks in the Chechen Republic marked in particular by the terrorist suicide explosions in Znamenskoye on 12 May 2003, in Iliskhan-Yurt on 14 May 2003 as well as the bomb explosion near the office of the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for ensuring human and civil rights and freedoms in the Chechen Republic, in Grozny on 21 April 2003, when the convoy of the Council of Europe experts was passing;

d. the adoption on 22 May 2003 by the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation in the first reading of the Resolution “on the Declaration of an amnesty in connection with the adoption of the Constitution of the Chechen Republic”;

e. the Annual Address of President Putin to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on 16 May 2003, in which he stated in particular that:

- .......Russia should be and will be a country with a developed civil society and sustainable democracy, where human rights, civil and political rights will be fully ensured......

.........for life in the [Chechen] republic to be finally brought back to normal a very great deal has yet to be done. It is necessary, on a democratic basis and in accordance with the Constitution adopted at the referendum to elect the president and the parliament of the republic, to form the local government bodies, to develop and sign a treaty on delimitation of powers between the federal centre and the republic. And of course to restore the economy of Chechnya......

5. In the light of the facts mentioned above the Committee of Ministers will continue to explore and pursue by concrete action any appropriate ways of increasing its practical assistance to the authorities of the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic in all relevant spheres including the rule of law, human rights, the functioning of democracy, cultural and educational co-operation, psychological rehabilitation and humanitarian priorities.

6. Within this framework the Committee of Ministers will also consider any specific and well-argued requests for support from relevant political, social and youth organisations.

7. The recent terrorist attacks and the incident involving inter alia the Council of Europe experts may have an impact on the continued presence of the experts in the immediate future. The Committee of Ministers expects the prolongation of the mandate for a period of six months. This would enhance the various possibilities for the Council of Europe to continue its work in the Chechen Republic aimed at supporting the restoration of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

8. The Committee of Ministers will continue to keep the Assembly informed about any action and development in this respect.