Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Putin Warns EU and Britain

Via RFE/RL:

Putin Warns EU Over Human Rights Pressure


July 5, 2006 -- President Vladimir Putin today warned European officials against using human rights to exert "political pressure" on Russia.

Putin said Russia is "open to an honest, nonpoliticized dialogue about human rights... but it is unacceptable for us when human rights issues are used to exert political pressure and achieve short-term goals."

He also implicitly criticized Britain for giving refuge to an envoy of the Chechen separatists, Akhmed Zakayev, whom Russia has accused of terrorism.

Putin was addressing top European prosecutors, at a meeting in Moscow sponsored by the Council of Europe, the continent's top rights watchdog, which Russia is currently chairing.

(AP)

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