Brussels, 04/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - In their talks this week in Moscow with Russian authorities, CFSP High Representative Javier Solana and European Commissioner for external relations Chris Patten:
- confirmed the great importance the EU attaches to its relations with Russia and its will not to call them into question. On the contrary, it intends to develop these relations and expand co-operation;
- reiterated that this will to co-operate does not restrict the EU's entitlement to express openly any differences or disapproval of any given behaviour;
- confirmed that the EU would be taking certain trade measures to ensure strict application of the agreement in force and that the action of the Tacis programme in Russia would henceforth be limited to humanitarian aid and the financing of projects in support of democracy, the rule of law, etc. The EU must have the possibility of providing direct aid to the Chechen people and to conduct checks on site to ensure that its aid is reaching the intended beneficiaries.
It was in this spirit that the EU representatives reiterated their disagreement with Russia's action in Chechnya and their conviction that the Chechen problem must be settled by political means and not by military means directly affecting the civilian population. Mr Solana and Mr Patten reiterated that, for the EU, OSCE and Council of Europe observers should be allowed to monitor the situation on location.
The Russian authorities confirmed that they do not share the EU's critical views but that they agree on the necessity of a political solution. They are not opposed to the presence of observers once the conditions making their mission possible have been assured. Further, Russia did not react to the trade measures announced by the EU. No objection was made to humanitarian aid in Chechnya. Commissioner Poul Nielson will be leaving for Russia on Saturday to meet authorities in Moscow before a visit "on location" to prepare the ground for humanitarian aid, including in Northern Caucasus.