13/12/1999 Agence Europe

Observing that more than 3,000 Chechen refugees are currently blocked in the small Georgian village of Shatili, on the frontier with Chechnya, and that thousands of others are expected to arrive in the coming days, while this small community (of some 100 inhabitants) is incapable of dealing with this influx of refugees, Belgian MEP Olivier Dupuis (elected in Italy on the Bonino list) wonders "what Commissioner Nielsen is waiting for to intervene". According to Mr Dupuis, there is no reason or political obstacle that could even partially justify such a lack of action by the European Commission.

1