European Council denounces Grozny terrorist act

Statements denouncing yesterday's terrorist act by Secretary General of the European Council Walter Schwimmer, Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe /PACE/ Peter Schieder and Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gil Robles have been spread in Strasbourg.

On behalf of the organisation comprising 45 states the Secretary General of the Council of Europe said: "I call on all parties concerned to put an end to the wave of violence and jointly find a reliable political solution to the region's problems." He also stressed it was necessary to combat terrorism observing human rights.

According to Schieder, "all Chechens have become hostages of terrorists trying to prevent the life in Chechnya returning to normal and attacking the region's administrative structures." The PACE head believes that "any act of terror whether in Chechnya or elsewhere is an act of terror against any of us." Terrorism can only be combated jointly, Schieder is convinced.

Gil Robles's statement reads: "There are many innocent victims and destroyed families in the region where people want only peace, democracy and true respect of his basic rights and freedoms." Those who order and commit terrorist acts undermine these just intentions, the Commissioner of the Council of Europe believes.

The heads of the Council of Europe expressed their condolences to the victims' families and the Russian government.

The explosion shook Grozny on Friday, June 20th. It took place not far from the buildings of the republican department on combating organised crime and the operative and search bureau.