Deiss urges Putin to end Chechen war
The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has responded to the election of Vladimir Putin as the new Russian president with a call for an early end to the war in Chechnya.
The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, has responded to the election of Vladimir Putin as the new Russian president with a call for an early end to the war in Chechnya.
In common with other western leaders who have called on the president-elect to end the Chechen war, Deiss said Switzerland was concerned about the continuing conflict. He said Switzerland had expressed its concerns on a number of occasions in past months.
In an interview with German-language Swiss television, Deiss called on Russia to meet its obligations within the European Council and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
He also urged Russia to ensure that international humanitarian organisations were able to carry out their work in Chechnya under the best possible conditions.
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