The leader of Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky doubts the efficiency of the dialogue between the human rights organisations and the authorities during the "Civic Forum" to be held in Moscow on November 21-22. This opinion was expressed by Yavlinsky on Saturday, November 3, 2001, at the conference of the Moscow Helsinki Group "Civil Society and the Authorities: Ways and Problems of Interaction", which has been taking place in Sochi.

Explaining his position, the leader of Yabloko said that "civil organisations may be different". According to Yavlinsky, dialogue with the authorities is useful for most public organisations and even necessary. Yavlinsky also thinks that via such cooperation many public organisations could obtain support from the federal and especially regional state authorities in the establishment of the requisite conditions for work or as financial assistance.

However, Yavlinsky indicated that organisations specially created to "monitor the authorities, the performance of public civil control over their actions regarding observation of human rights, implementation of the Constitution and the laws" can be singled out from these public organisations. "Human right defenders are such organisations," noted Yavlinsky.

Addressing the conference Yavlinsky said that "when human rights defenders compromise with the authorities, make concessions and calculate the results of negotiations, they turn into politicians." "Human rights defenders cannot compromise with the protection of human rights," added Yavlinsky.

Speaking about the coming "Civic Forum", the leader of Yabloko expressed his doubts over the efficiency of the dialogue between the authorities and the civil society in such a form. He also reminded participants of the conference about the Civil Accord that was concluded in 1994 by the Administration of the Russian Federation, including President Yeltsin, and a large number of public and political organisations of the country. However, according to Yavlinsky, the signing of this treaty did not lead to any obvious results in reaching accord and peace. "As much good as harm emerged," said Yabloko's leader.

Yavlinsky also indicated that the Yabloko party and the movement of human rights defenders share common goals – monitoring implementation of the first two chapters of the Constitution of the Russian Federation that state the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Russia.

Yavlinsky made his speech at the conference of the Moscow Helsinki Group during his visit to the Krasnodar Territory. On the eve of his speech at the conference, on Friday, Yavlinsky had participated in the work of the 16th conference of the regional branch of the Yabloko party, and also met Chairmen of the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnodar Territory Vladimir Beketov. On Saturday Grigory Yavlinsky met with the Mayor of Sochi Leonid Mostovoi.

See also:

Grigory Yavlinsky to visit Krasnodar Territory on November 1-3, 2001