Brussels, 25/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - In response to questions following the BBC's broadcast, on Thursday, of scenes that would prove atrocities had been committed by Russian soldiers in Chechnya, CFSP High Representative Javier Solana declared he was very concerned about the information, accompanied by shocking pictures, of apparent human rights abuse in Chechnya. He said it is clear that, after an appropriate assessment of this information, the European Union should examine what would be the appropriate response. Judgements must be founded on fact. A rapid investment, which is independent and transparent, is vital in order to establish such facts without a shadow of a doubt. He called on Russia to fully cooperate in the inquiry and to bring all persons involved in these apparent crimes to justice.
On Thursday, the BBC showed pictures taken in villages near Grozny which showed mass graves in which bodies, some of which were mutilated, had been thrown. The BBC said that it had not shown most of the pictures available as they were too difficult to bear.