Moscow/Brussels, 18/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - The EP Delegation for relations with the Duma, chaired by Bart States (Greens, Belgium) met, in Moscow, its Russian counterparts who, although highly critical of the recent Parliament resolution on Chechnya (see EUROPE of 11 April, p.6), said they were "open" to the request made by MEPs for an ad hoc EP delegation to visit northern Caucasus.
For the first time, MEPs met the Director General of the FSB (formerly KGB), Serguei Patrushev, who also said he was not in principle opposed to the sending of such a delegation. MEPs and Mr Patrushev discussed the Grigory Pasko affair, concerning the journalist imprisoned for having diffused information (already in the public domain, recalls a Delegation press release) on problems posed to the environment by the Russian nuclear fleet.
Deputy Foreign Minister Serguei Razov agreed, moreover, to press for a solution to the logistical problems encountered by the ECHO humanitarian programme in Chechnya, and MEPs insisted on the need for aid to reach destination.
Finally, MEPs visited the region of Samara, which has been chosen, states the press release, for its "progressive stance on economic and social issues". On this occasion, they met Governor Titov and also visited projects funded by the TACIS programme.