MOSCOW, October 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday dialogue with European partners on issues related to human rights should be politically unbiased.
Lavrov said Moscow has not avoided discussing pointed issues such as observing human rights in the North Caucasus.
"I want to emphasize that we are always ready for dialogue but that dialogue should not be politicized, it should be concrete and concentrate on the search for ways in cooperation so that human rights in all aspects are respected and followed," Lavrov said at a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in Moscow
Kouchner said France can not ignore events in the North Caucasus when human rights activists and journalists are frequently murdered.
"The situation in the Caucasus disturbs me just like everyone else," Kouchner said.
The murder of respected human rights activist Natalya Estemirova in July caused international outrage. In a similar attack, Zarema Sadulayeva, the head of a children's charity in Chechnya, and her husband, Alik Dzhabrailov, were kidnapped and found dead in the trunk of their car on August 11. All three had been shot in the head and chest.
