EU Presidency declaration on the kidnapping of humanitarian aid workers

The European Union strongly condemns the latest abduction of two humanitarian aid workers, Alexander Panov and Musa Stushev working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in North Caucasus. This latest attack on humanitarian aid workers follows the kidnappings in Chechnya and Dagestan in July and August of Nina Davidovich of Druzhba (partner of UNICEF) and Arjan Erkel of Médecins sans Frontières-Suisse, who, regrettably are still missing and unaccounted for.

The European Union is deeply concerned about the fate of all the hostages and calls upon those responsible to ensure their immediate release and safe return. Safe and unhindered access is essential for the provision of humanitarian aid. Abducting humanitarian aid workers is seriously prejudicial to the work of Humanitarian Organisations in the North Caucasus region who continue to play an essential role in providing assistance to those in need.

The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration.

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