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Al-Ahram Weekly 13 - 19 April 2000 Issue No. 477 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 13 - 19 April 2000 Issue No. 477
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Books Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Sticks, stones and money
By Abdel-Malek KhalilAfter the European Union's mild rebuke of the Kremlin over Russia's horrendous human rights record in Chechnya, things quickly went back to normal between Brussels and Moscow -- old friends and allies.
A war of words erupted last Friday following the Council of Europe's sudden and unexpected move to expel Russia from the 41-nation organisation. Ostensibly established to promote democracy in Europe and across the globe, the CE soon began to overlook human rights violations focusing instead on the market and reforms proposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The CE's show of concern came after Mary Robinson, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, gave a damning report on Russian atrocities and human rights violations in Chechnya. During her visit to Russia last week, Robinson and her entourage were subjected to delays and bureaucratic and logistic frustrations. Most importantly, the extensive tour of Chechnya, which Robinson had travelled to Russia to conduct, was cut decidedly short. She was subsequently shunned by Russian officials and refused permission to meet with Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin.
Following initial sanctimonious posturing about democracy and human rights, Jaime Gama -- the foreign minister of Portugal, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency -- was careful to spell out the EU's priorities in no uncertain terms. Asserting that the West was anxious not to derail ties with Moscow over allegations of human rights abuses by Russian troops in Chechnya, Gama was quick to downplay the CE's move. "We do not want to make of this case a global confrontation with Russia. We have a disagreement. Our basic goal is to have a strategic partnership with Russia."
The Kremlin bent over backwards to concur. The Russian government's first and foremost concern was that the CE's threat should not affect the market and remain strictly political -- particularly crucial right now, since an IMF delegation is currently visiting Moscow.
"This vote should in no way affect our relations with international financial organisations," stressed Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko.
The IMF delegation is assessing whether to resume their assistance programme to the economically embattled giant. IMF lending was temporarily suspended last September, when Russia turned into a political liability as a result of the brutal Chechen campaign and allegations of high-level money laundering schemes and rampant corruption in inner Kremlin circles.
