Humanitarian aid tops agenda of Moscow talks

Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss on Friday expressed concern over the fighting in Chechnya, particularly the fate of the civilian population. Moscow said cooperation with aid organisations was going well, but could be improved.

Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss (left) on Friday expressed concern over the fighting in Chechnya, particularly the fate of the civilian population.

Deiss told Russian Interior Minister Igor Ivanov (right) during three hours of talks in Moscow that the Swiss government, along with many western nations, was concerned about the numerous deaths and the fate of an estimated 200,000 refugees.

Ivanov again said that the Russian military campaign was aimed at terrorists and was a domestic issue.

Moscow has vowed to wipe out the rebels, who twice invaded a neighbouring region and whom it accuses of a series of bomb blasts in which almost 300 people were killed. The rebels and the Chechen leadership deny planting the bombs in Russia.

Deiss said the Swiss government would like Russian troops in Chechnya to guarantee the safety of international aid agencies, such as the Swiss-based International Committee of the Red Cross and the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR.

Deiss also pledged an additional $600,000 for humanitarian aid in Chechnya.

The Russian minister said relations with aid organisations were good, but he conceded that improvement was possible.

Ivanov also said on Friday that a planned visit by the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe would take place.

However, the Russian minister said he saw no prospect of Knut Vollebaek’s visit leading to a political solution.

From staff and wire reports.