From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 3/16/2007 8:48 AM
Thu, March 15, 2007 Prodi talks human rights to Putin
Reuters
Italy's Romano Prodi raised the thorny issue of human rights with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday, but appeared at pains to avoid any clash that could damage relations with Moscow.
"The summit touched on all themes. We also spoke about freedom of the press, freedom of association and human rights as fundamental values of our societies," the Prime Minister told a news conference after a meeting in this southern Adriatic city.
Activists had urged Prof. Prodi to drive home the human rights issue at the summit, at which both sides stressed how a string of business and cultural deals had strengthened good relations.
The Prime Minister's mention of freedom of the press appeared significant because Italian groups had also raised the case of crusading journalist Anna Politkovskaya, whose murder last year intensified concern about freedom of speech in Russia, as did the killing of US journalist Paul Klebnikov in 2004. "Nobody is indifferent when a person's rights and those of peace between peoples are compromised," Prof. Prodi said.
Earlier this month a human rights report by the US State Department ranked Russia as a serious offender, part of a recent worsening in US-Russian relations. Russia rejected the report as biased, confrontational and politicised.
Rights activists had asked Prof. Prodi to press Mr Putin in particular over allegations of torture and kidnapping of civilians in the rebellious province of Chechnya.
The Moscow-backed Chechen government led by former rebel Ramzan Kadyrov, promoted to acting President by Putin last month, has denied accusations that security forces there take hostages and use torture in secret detention centres.
Mr Putin said "there are many problems in the Chechen republic but all democratic institutions including the presidency, Parliament and courts are in place there".
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