B4-0285/95

Resolution on the humanitarian situation in Chechnya and the neighbouring republics of Ingushetia, Dagestan and Northern Ossetia

The European Parliament,

-having regard to its resolutions of 15 December 1994 and 19 January 1995 on the situation in Chechnya,

-having regard to the conclusions of the OSCE mission to Moscow and Grozny on 26-29 January 1995,

-having regard to the statement by Mr Kovalev, the Russian human rights spokesman, to the Council of Europe on 30 January 1995,

A.having regard to the desperate plight of more than 400 000 refugees, almost exclusively women, old people and children under 14, currently in the republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and Northern Ossetia, who are suffering from acute shortages of accommodation, food, clothing and fuel,

B.having regard to the intensified bombing of oil refineries and chemical works and the consequent environmental disaster which is irreversibly damaging nature and the local population, and is tantamount to using the destruction of the bases of existence as a strategic aim,

1.Calls on the Russian and Chechen sides to call an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to permit the retrieval of the dead and wounded and the establishment of corridors and safety zones to facilitate aid measures;

2.Instructs its ad hoc delegation, due shortly to visit Moscow and undertake a fact-finding mission to the area in question, to appeal to all the authorities concerned to:

(a)reopen as soon as possible infrastructures and supply facilities for the people remaining in Grozny,

(b)grant the international (governmental and non-governmental) aid organizations the access they have requested to enable them to aid the afflicted population;

3.Calls on the EU and its Member States to provide the necessary material and logistic aid in the crisis region and the affected neighbouring republics through international aid organizations such as the UNHCR and the ICRC;

4.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the President of the Russian Federation and the Secretariat-General of the OSCE.