Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe

2000 P Street NW Suite 400, Washington D.C 20036

Tel: (202) 466-7105 Fax: (202) 466-7l40 - Email: idee@idee.org

Irena Lasota, Director of Programs Eric Chenoweth,

Director of Publications

July 27, 2000

President and Members

Economic and Social Conci1

United Nations

New York, NY

VIA FACSIMILE

Dear Mr. President and Members of the Council,

We are writing to you today on behalf of the Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe to appeal against the suspension of the Transnational Radical Party from consultative status at the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

We are deeply disturbed by tile allegation that the Transnational Radical Party was acting contrary to the Charter of the United Nations when it invited

Akhyad Idigov, President of the Chechen Parliament' s Foreign Affairs Committee to speak at the 56th session of the Commission of Human Rights about human rights violations in Chechnya and the need for a negotiated settlement to the conflict there. To suspend the Transnational Radical Party for giving Mr Idigov an opportunity to speak would be a terrible attack on the right to freedom of expression, a right enshrined in the UN Charter. We are very concerned about the precedent that would be set if an NGO is suspended for expressing views which one or more members find objectionable.

Thank you for your consideration and appeal to you not to suspend the Transnational Radical Party.

Sincerely yours,

Irena Lasota Eric Chenoweth

President Co-Director