(28 Jan 2000) English/Nat
European Union (EU) representatives in Russia have explained why the E-U decided not to punish Russia with trade sanctions over the Chechnya offensive.
But they said the E-U had decided to suspend 90 (m) million U-S dollars of a planned 130 (m) million U-S dollar aid package to Russia.
The E-U also decided not to carry over 30 (m) million U-S dollars of unspent funds for food aid, sending a clear signal to Russia that Europe is unhappy with the continuing conflict in Chechnya.
European Union representative in Russia, Gilbert Dubois, and Portuguese Ambassador to Russia, Jose Pacheco Luiz-Gomes, explained the latest E-U move at a news conference in Moscow on Friday.
They said the E-U's decision to suspend 90 (m) million U-S dollars of aid to Russia was directed at short-term projects which could be quickly reversed if Russia changed its course in Chechnya.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The European Union, Monday, has decided that we had already since a number of months, discussed the same problem with Russia, and unfortunately, on our side, we have not seen enough signals of changes. So we have taken a few decisions. I have to say that these decisions have been taken in a spirit of moderation and have been selected as measures that could be withdrawn quickly when there is a change in Russian policy."
SUPER CAPTION: Gilbert Dubois, European Union representative in Russia
They said the E-U is insisting on a political settlement of the six-month war.
Luiz-Gomes said that Monday's decision didn't amount to sanctions and that European nations still regarded Moscow as a strategic partner.
He said the organisation wanted to give Moscow a clear signal that the E-U doesn't like some aspects of Russian policy.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The word 'sanctions' can have a connotation that maybe we would not like to have considered in this situation. (Russian translation given) What we are basically doing is adjusting some of our programmes to coincide more with the level of our relationship (with Russia) at this moment."
SUPER CAPTION: Jose Pacheco Luiz-Gomes, Portuguese Ambassador to Russia
Dubois suggested that some funds might be redirected as humanitarian aid to the Caucasus region when the conflict is settled.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"And also the money which is not being used presently by the TASIS programme, will be redirected towards humanitarian assistance, which might be, for instance, but this is not decided yet, but most probably it will be the case, for humanitarian assistance in the Caucasus area, and possibly when the conflict is stopped and we hope the sooner the better."
SUPER CAPTION: Gilbert Dubois, European Union representative in Russia
Russia sent troops into Chechnya in September, saying it wanted to root out rebels who had twice invaded the neighbouring Russian region of Dagestan in August.
Chechen rebels were also blamed for a series of deadly apartment building bombings in Moscow and two other cities.
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