Resolution on the situation in the Republic of Ingushetia

The European Parliament

- having regard to its resolutions and debates on the situation in the northern Caucasus, and in particular Chechnya and neighbouring Ingushetia,

A. having regard to the ongoing tensions generated by the fighting in North Ossetia's Prigorodny district in November 1992, whence thousands of persons of Ingush nationality fled to Ingushetia,

B. alarmed by reports on the serious situation of the people of Ingush nationality in the Prigorodny district of North Ossetia, but noting the agreement of the three parties (Ingushetia, North Ossetia and the Russian Federation) to allow refugees to return to the Prigorodny and Vladikavkaz districts,

C. whereas it is necessary to prevent serious suffering, in particular of women and children, as a result of the inadequate supply of goods and food caused by the difficult economical situation and winter,

D. noting that the Ingush internal displaced persons do not yet have any real possibility of returning to the places where they formerly lived in the Prigorodny district of North Ossetia, since the agreement of 4 September 1997 and the programme of 15 October 1997 concerning the Ossetian-Ingush conflict, agreed between the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania and the Republic of Ingushetia are not yet being applied,

1. Calls on the Russian State Duma to take appropriate measures to facilitate assistance to areas of return in Prigorodny district, in order to enable the civilian Ingush population of the district to resume their normal lives in security and peace and have access to economic activities;

2. Urges all the authorities involved to respect and apply the agreements concerning the return of Ingush refugees to the Prigorodny district;

3. Appeals to the UN, the OSCE, and other international organizations to use all their influence and means to contribute actively to the normalization process in the northern Caucasus without further delay;

4. Calls on the Council and Commission to consider financing humanitarian activities, through ECHO, for implementation by international organizations in areas of return in the Prigorodny and Vladikavkaz districts;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Russian State Duma, the President of the Russian Federation, the governments of Ingushetia and North Ossetia, the UN Secretary-General and the OSCE Secretary-General.