EU and Russia hold fourth round of Human Rights Consultations
Press release 453/2006
8 November, 2006
The European Union and Russia today held their fourth Consultations on human rights. The aim of these Consultations is to discuss issues related to human rights and fundamental freedoms. The first round of the Consultations was held in Luxembourg in March 2005.
Meeting in Brussels, senior officials from the EU and Russia discussed the human rights situation in the Russia and the EU, as well as international human rights issues.
The EU raised specific concerns about the human rights situation in Russia, notably the situation in Chechnya, media freedom including the assassination of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, the situation of NGOs after the entry into force of the law on NGOs, the implementation of the law on countering extremist activity, respect for rule of law, as well as other issues.
The EU provided the Russian side with an insight in the human rights developments in the European Union, including combating racism and xenophobia as well as the establishment of a Fundamental Rights Agency.
Discussions also covered co-operation in UN human rights fora and in the Council of Europe including cooperation with human rights mechanisms and implementing judgments of the European Court on Human Rights. Russia's Presidency of the Council of Europe, ending on 15 November 2006, were also discussed.
Discussions were constructive and held in a friendly atmosphere. The next Consultations are planned to take place under German Presidency of the EU.
The EU troika was led by Mr Klaus Korhonen, Deputy Director General for the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Russian delegation was led by the Director of the Department of Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Mr Oleg Malginov.
Further information: Johanna Suurpää, Director, Unit for Human Rights Policy of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, tel. +358 (0)9 1605 6551