Chechnya: UN appeals for the release of Arjan Erkel

Moscow, 12 August 2003. -- A year has passed since the abduction in Dagestan on 12 August 2002 of Arjan Erkel, Head of the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) mission in the republic. On this sad occasion, the United Nations would like to reiterate its appeal for his safe and immediate release. The United Nations also wishes to once again express solidarity with Mr Erkel's family and MSF, the non-government organisation for which Mr Erkel worked and which has been efficiently and closely working with the UN to provide assistance to people in need in the North Caucasus.
The United Nations is deeply concerned about the fate of Mr Arjan Erkel, which to date remains unknown. In the past few months, the United Nations has welcomed the news from investigators that Mr Erkel is alive, as well as President Putin's public assurances that the Russian law enforcement bodies will continue searching for Arjan Erkel. From 11-12 August, a delegation, including representatives of the United Nations and donor countries, is visiting the North Caucasus and will raise the issue of Arjan Erkel's fate in meetings with the local authorities there.

The UN condemns Mr Erkel's abduction and wishes to underscore once again that such actions undermine the effective provision of humanitarian assistance to the thousands of civilians in need in the North Caucasus. It also reiterates its solidarity with the hundreds of civilians abducted in the North Caucasus in recent years and calls on those responsible to ensure their safe return.

For further information, please contact the United Nations' public information officer on this issue, Ms Victoria Zotikova, on (095) 956-6405.