News

On January 15-16, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe paid a working visit to Russia. During the visit the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the CoE met with Igor Ivanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia; Valentin Yelagin, Minister Co-ordinating the Functioning of Federal Authorities Responsible for the Social and Economic Development of Chechnya; Boris Gryzlov, Minister of the Interior; Yuri Chayka, Minister of Justice; Mikhail Lesin, Minister of Press, Television and Radio Affairs; Nikolai Patrushev, Head of the Federal Security Service of Russia; Dmitri Rogozin, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Duma of the RF; Sergei Frank, Minister of Transport of the RF, Alexey Miller, Head of the Russian Gas Concern "Gazprom"; Sergei Mironov, High Representative of the RF for Human Rights; Ambassadors of Council of Europe member states and USA accredited in Moscow; and representatives of mass media, political sciences and non-governmental organisations. The process of democratic reforms in Russia, legal reform, protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Russia, the situation in Chechnya, and freedom of the press were the issues discussed with the Russian party. At the meeting with Foreign Minister Ivanov, Chairman Valionis gave a positive assessment of the progress of democratic reforms in Russia. He underlined that respect for human rights were among the most cherished values. Human rights must be respected even when combating terrorism. The Minister noted that Lithuania would support Russia in the Council of Europe and the European Union when support would be sought for the implementation of co-operation programmes, particularly for the promotion of the European Human Rights Convention and the implementation of federalist reforms in Russia. The situation in Chechnya was also discussed. The Minister noted that the Council of Europe supported a political way of settling a conflict and was interested in more effective investigation of human rights violations. The officials of the RF informed about the investigation of the cases of alleged crimes by the military in Chechnya. The Minister stressed the significance of the input of CoE experts in the office of the High Representative for Human Rights Kalmanov. The Minister asked when Russia was going to ratify the Protocol No.6 to the European Convention on Human Rights concerning the abolition of the death penalty (Russia has announced the moratorium on the death penalty, however it has not ratified this Protocol). The Minister also drew his colleague's attention to the necessity of resolving the matters arising from Russia's commitments undertaken upon accession into the CoE - return property of the Baltic States (embassy buildings), ratification of the Lithuanian-Russian border agreement, and measures related to the provision of housing and compensation to the deportees returning to the Baltic States. At the meeting with Dmitri Rogozin, Chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Duma of the RF, the situation in the Chechen Republic was discussed, and the CoE support for a political resolution of the conflict in Chechnya was emphasised. Chairman Valionis was interested in the social and economic situation in Chechnya and the humanitarian situation in refugee camps. The Minister was also keen on when the State Duma of the Russian Federation intended to ratify Protocol No. 6 to the European Human Rights Convention on the abolition of the death penalty. Attention was drawn to the necessity to meet the commitments undertaken upon accession into the Council of Europe. The meeting with Nikolai Patrushev, Head of the Federal Security Service of Russia, was used as an opportunity to debate on human rights and fight against terrorism. Both parties agreed that terrorism was the major threat to security and discussed possible input of the CoE into this endeavour. Minister Valionis paid attention to the fact that human rights should be ensured in Chechnya. When talking with Mikhail Lesin, Minister of Press, Television and Radio Affairs, Minister Valionis focused on issues related to freedom of the press and proceedings against mass media that are closely related to independence of the judiciary in Russia. Drawing conclusions of the visit Chairman Valionis noted that Russia's membership of the CoE gave good results, however the remaining commitments that had been undertaken upon accession into the Council of Europe needed to be implemented: Russia had not ratified Protocol No. 6 to the Human Rights Convention on the abolition of the death penalty, the legal reforms are slow, certain problems persist in training of judges and upgrading their qualifications and freedom of the press. The summary conclusions concerning Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the CoE Valions' visit to Russia will be submitted to the CoE Parliamentary Assembly on 22 January, to be later forwarded to the Committee of Ministers.