Chechnya, A tragedy for Europe and Russia : How to make Human Rights also respected in Chechnya 11 propositions for r

1. Chechnya, A tragedy for Europe and Russia:How to make Human Rights also respected in Chechnya 11 propositions for reflections and discussions by Andreas Gross (Zurich) (Political Scientist, MP, PACE) Info@andigross.chwww.andigross.ch Svenska Freds/Kommitten for EU-Debatt «Hur kann EU och andra länder agera för fred i Tjetjenien?» Stockholm October 14th 2006

2. “Europe needs the Russian gas; the next months will show us, how much the defense of basic human rights in comparison with economic interests really counts.”Film-Maker Eric Bergkraut in the NZZ from 11th october 2006 “The consternation about the assassination of Anna Politkowskaja does not change anything about the double morality (“Doppelmoral”) of the West. Putins oil is too important” J.Voswinkel /J.Ross in the ZEIT from October 12 th 2006

3. I. To end the (first) Chechnya's war was 1996 the condition for Russia’s entry in the Council of Europe No general (western) consensus (will) about: How to build up Human Rights in post totalitarian societies How to do this in Russia How the end of war will be transformed into peace

4. Old Europe welcomed and wanted to support the project of the new Russian elite:Modernization means Europeanization Everything else would not have been in the interest of the Security of Europe - but how much old and new Europe have been ready to invest and engage for this ?

5. II. Human Rights are never ending collective learning processes There is always a beginning, never an end There is never a perfect democracy; you may always reduce imperfections The will to begin and to make progress is essential This process has to be monitored

6. III. You can’t ignore the heritage of totalitarism, - you have to transform it in a common effort What is the “political” in a “political solution”? Elections have to be inclusive, not exclusive if you want to integrate a disintegrated society What is (democratic) power all about ? What are (democratic) politics all about ? Peace in Chechnya depends on the success of the democracy building process in Russia

7. IV. For the (too few) sustainably en-gaged Russian citizens the Russian CoE membership is of great help: The European Court of Human Rights ruled until now nearly only in the interest of the Russian citizens and not of the Russian Courts The PACE delivered in it’s Parliamentarian Monitoring Process one of the most complete critical analyses of Russia’s HR deficits The PACE is the only official body who brought light and public attention to Chechnya since 1996

8. V. Avoid black & white perceptions/pictures/stereotypes Mutual disrespect for Human Rights and Rule of law Mutual responsibilities for war and war crimes There a self-critical and reform oriented people on both sides Mutually bad feelings:Kosachev /Kadyrow- Zakajew /Bassayew

9. VI. “The solution” is not a moment, but the beginning of a process The momentum for this beginning has to be integrative and respect the essentials of both sides The process has to be open-ended The design of this process and its mutual support might be the key of the beginning of the beginning

10. VII. There are lessons to be learned from successful historical autonomies as a tool for overcoming crises (Aland) Integrate unity and variety Unite self-determination and integration Open ended process in which there is a procedure how disagreements have to be handled A third (international) party may help

11. VIII. You can’t ignore the global context, but you don’t have to sacrify a local community for it “International terror” as well as “fundamentalism” are only (smaller) factors of the problem, not the problem as such Resources are of local importance but not the real issue for Russia Russia and Chechnyans feel themselves humiliated

12. IX. The Russian and the chechnyan nation feel sub-jectively as humiliated nations Humiliated nations are difficult to challenge They tend to transform internal problems in to external real and rhetoric agressivity (expl. Russia/ Georgia)

13. X. You can’t impose Human Rights in Russia against or without Russians - you have to integrate their concerns Integrity of the Russian Federation No violence anymore as political instrument Dialog and negotiations as the way to take in order to overcome disagreements

14. XI. The leaders and peoples of Europe and the West can’t delegate their responsi-bilities, as well as the Russian leader can’t delegate theirs to semi criminal structures The disregard of our principles discredit them most Energy- needs and high prices do not legitimize the ignorance of Humans Rights Human Rights are not sunshine- policies but conditions for peace and real stability