Brussels, 12/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 8 March, the European Union, with the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) made the following declaration:
"The EU is alarmed at the discovery of a mass grave in Zdorovye, near Grozny, mentioned inter alia in the Assistance Group (AG) report dated 2 March and documented by well-known human rights organisations, such as Memorial. We urge the Russian Federation authorities to complete a transparent and comprehensive investigation as soon a possible on the matter, and to provide detailed information. The human rights situation in and around Chechnya remains of serous concern to the EU. All alleged human rights violations must be thoroughly investigated andperpetrators brought to justice. The continued unsatisfactory situation in Chechnya underscores the need to re-deploy the AG expeditiously on the basis of its 1995 mandate. We call on the Russian Federation to finally facilitate its return. The EU reiterates its belief that the underlying conflict in Chechnya can only be resolved by peaceful means. We therefore continue to call for serious from all sides towards a political solution.
The associated countries of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Turkey subscribe to this statement".