spinnin'dervish
February 11th, 2005, 08:22 PM
on a small note-long live freedom fighters where ever they are-
Russia angers Britain over N. Irish abuse charges
By Francois Murphy
VIENNA (Reuters) - Russia has angered Britain by saying a fact-finding mission should look into the "disproportionate" use of force by police and soldiers in Northern Ireland, documents obtained by Reuters show.
Russia's remarks to a closed-door meeting at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna were its latest criticism of what it sees as double standards towards Moscow among Western countries at the OSCE.
Diplomats say Russia dislikes the OSCE's criticism of its democratic and human rights record and feels the organisation, Europe's biggest security and human rights watchdog, focuses too much on countries "east of Vienna".
"An OSCE fact-finding mission should be sent to Northern Ireland for the purpose of conducting an in-depth study of all the circumstances surrounding the current exacerbation of this long-standing conflict," Russia's acting permanent envoy to the OSCE, Boris Timokhov, said in a statement obtained by Reuters.
Human rights bodies have criticised Russia for its rights record in the southern republic of Chechnya, where it is fighting separatist rebels.
The European Union has in the past condemned what it called abuses by Russian security forces in Chechnya, including forced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and torture.
Timokhov told the OSCE on Thursday that Russia was concerned at the situation in Northern Ireland after the Irish Republican Army withdrew an offer to disarm earlier this month,
The mission should consider "the acts of terrorism and the instances of a disproportionate use of armed force by the army and the police that have occurred there", he said, adding that the findings could help mediators involved in the province.
Britain's ambassador refuted Timokhov's statement on excessive force.
"There are many problems in Northern Ireland, but use of excessive force is not one of them," British Ambassador Colin Munro said in his response, also obtained by Reuters.
While Russia said it was acting out of concern for European security and stability, one diplomat said it was simply angry at the 55-nation OSCE, which has denounced elections in Russia and neighbouring countries as falling short of democratic standards.
"They're fed up with the Western countries lecturing them about human rights, especially since not all Western countries have perfect records in that department," an OSCE diplomat said.
Ireland's ambassador said in his response that the added value of an OSCE mission was "not immediately apparent".
Russia angers Britain over N. Irish abuse charges
By Francois Murphy
VIENNA (Reuters) - Russia has angered Britain by saying a fact-finding mission should look into the "disproportionate" use of force by police and soldiers in Northern Ireland, documents obtained by Reuters show.
Russia's remarks to a closed-door meeting at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna were its latest criticism of what it sees as double standards towards Moscow among Western countries at the OSCE.
Diplomats say Russia dislikes the OSCE's criticism of its democratic and human rights record and feels the organisation, Europe's biggest security and human rights watchdog, focuses too much on countries "east of Vienna".
"An OSCE fact-finding mission should be sent to Northern Ireland for the purpose of conducting an in-depth study of all the circumstances surrounding the current exacerbation of this long-standing conflict," Russia's acting permanent envoy to the OSCE, Boris Timokhov, said in a statement obtained by Reuters.
Human rights bodies have criticised Russia for its rights record in the southern republic of Chechnya, where it is fighting separatist rebels.
The European Union has in the past condemned what it called abuses by Russian security forces in Chechnya, including forced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and torture.
Timokhov told the OSCE on Thursday that Russia was concerned at the situation in Northern Ireland after the Irish Republican Army withdrew an offer to disarm earlier this month,
The mission should consider "the acts of terrorism and the instances of a disproportionate use of armed force by the army and the police that have occurred there", he said, adding that the findings could help mediators involved in the province.
Britain's ambassador refuted Timokhov's statement on excessive force.
"There are many problems in Northern Ireland, but use of excessive force is not one of them," British Ambassador Colin Munro said in his response, also obtained by Reuters.
While Russia said it was acting out of concern for European security and stability, one diplomat said it was simply angry at the 55-nation OSCE, which has denounced elections in Russia and neighbouring countries as falling short of democratic standards.
"They're fed up with the Western countries lecturing them about human rights, especially since not all Western countries have perfect records in that department," an OSCE diplomat said.
Ireland's ambassador said in his response that the added value of an OSCE mission was "not immediately apparent".