EU Leaders Urge Russia to Tackle Chechnya Concerns

In a draft text of the conclusions of a two-day summit here, the EU leaders said they saw the presidential election on Sunday as an important opportunity for Russia and the EU to develop a "genuinely effective and working strategic partnership." Acting President Vladimir Putin is a strong favourite in Sunday_s presidential election or in a subsequent runoff. The text also expressed hope that Russia, freed from the pressures of an election campaign, would address "the serious concerns of the international community to see a political solution in Chechnya". The 15-nation EU has repeatedly voiced concern at the situation in Chechnya, where Russian forces have been battling separatist fighters for six months. After the elections, Russia would have a chance to meet international concerns over "the disproportionate use of force, the violations of human rights and the failure of the Russian authorities to investigate these fully ... or to give genuine access to international humanitarian agencies in accordance with their own undertakings," the summit text said. The EU leaders instructed Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres, whose country currently holds the bloc_s rotating presidency, and EU security chief Javier Solana to travel to Moscow as soon as possible after the election. Guterres and Solana would reaffirm to the new Russian president "the EU_s approach to and concerns about a relationship which is so important to both sides," the draft text said.