PACE Representatives Intend To Visit Dagestan, Chechnya

Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) intend to visit Dagestan and Chechnya in early December, PACE Secretary General Bruno Haller told journalists Wednesday. Russia is a Council of Europe member, Haller noted, and "any conflict on the territory of a CE member-state is our common conflict." Haller deems it expedient to establish as soon as possible a consultative body in Chechnya, where different representatives of the Chechen people will work together with the utmost assistance from Russia and the Council of Europe. On November 26-27 Strasbourg will host a meeting of deputies of the Russian State Duma (lower parliamentary house), representatives of PACE and Chechnya. The meeting is expected to be attended by representatives of the Chechen republican administration and foreign diaspora.