The European Union and Russia today held their third formal consultations on human rights. The aim of these consultations is to discuss issues related to human rights and fundamental freedoms. EU and Russia decided to hold such expert consultations at the Hague Summit in November 2004, while continuing to discuss human rights issues at all levels.
Meeting in Vienna, senior officials from the EU and Russia discussed the internal human rights situation in Russia and the European Union, as well as co-operation on human rights in international fora. The consultations were preceded yesterday by a visit of the two parties to the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, and a meeting of the EU delegation with Russian and international NGOs who brought a range of human rights concerns to the attention of the EU.
The consultations covered co-operation in UN human rights fora, in particular the mandate and establishment of the Human Rights Council and preparations for a next session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. Russia informed on last week's visit of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Louise Arbour, and on follow-up steps. Russia confirmed that the UN Special Rapporteurs on Racism and on Torture are invited to visit Russia in 2006. Co-operation in the Council of Europe, including the implementation of its decisions and recommendations, in particular ECHR judgments and ratification of Protocols 6 and 14, and Russia's upcoming Presidency of this organization were also broached.
The EU raised a number of specific concerns about the human rights situation in Russia. With regard to Chechnya and the North Caucasus, the EU raised concerns regarding impunity and the lack of rule of law and asked for investigation of disappearances and reports of torture. There was an extensive discussion about the situation of NGOs and human rights defenders following the adoption of the law on NGOs. The EU stressed the importance of continued unhindered activities of domestic and foreign NGOs. Russia informed on planned measures to enhance human rights protection in the armed forces.
The two sides paid particular attention throughout the agenda to measures to combat racism and xenophobia in both the EU and Russia.
The EU provided the Russian side with answers to particular human rights issues in EU Member States. As regards the rights of persons belonging to minorities, the EU recalled the full compliance with Copenhagen criteria by the Member States. The EU also explained its internal legislation and activities in the field of human rights.
The EU troika was led by Mr Engelbert Theuermann, Director for Human Rights at the Foreign Ministry of Austria, which currently holds the EU Presidency. The Russian delegation was led by Mr Parshikov, Director for Humanitarian Co-operation and Human Rights, Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The next round of human rights consultations will be held in September 2006 under the Finnish Presidency.
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