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<title>CANADA VIEWS ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN CHECHNYA WITH SERIOUS CONCERN</title>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>February 25, 2000 <em>(5:25 p.m. EST)</em> No. 31</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>CANADA VIEWS ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN CHECHNYA WITH
SERIOUS CONCERN</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Russian embassy officials were called into the Department of Foreign Affairs today regarding allegations of
serious human rights violations in Chechnya. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Russia must work together with Canada and the international community to ensure that allegations of human
rights abuses in Chechnya are quickly investigated," Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy said after viewing
disturbing television footage showing what are reportedly Russian soldiers dumping mutilated bodies in
Chechnya. "While we do not have any further information to support the authenticity of these claims, if these
allegations are accurate, it confirms some of our worst fears with respect to this conflict." </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The conflict in Chechnya was one of the key subjects of Minister Axworthy's meetings with Russian Foreign
Minister Igor Ivanov in Moscow three weeks ago. At that meeting Mr. Axworthy pressed his Russian counterpart
on the immediate need to begin a political process aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement to the conflict, and
the requirement for increased access to the region for international humanitarian relief. Canada's concerns
about the situation in Chechnya were raised in Ottawa yesterday with visiting Russian Minister and G-8 Sherpa
Alexander Livshits. Chechnya has also been the subject of numerous recent interventions by Canada at the
Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Vienna.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">According to Minister Axworthy, it is in Russia's interest to support an investigation into allegations of human
rights abuses in Chechnya, including scrutiny by international human rights observers, in order to determine the
true extent of the abuses and to identify and bring to justice anyone implicated. Canada welcomes Russian
assurances that the video will be handed over to military prosecutors and calls on newly appointed Special
Presidential Representative for Human Rights in Chechnya Vladimir Kalamanov to ensure that all allegations
are fully investigated. </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Debora Brown</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1851</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
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