GROZNY. June 16 (Interfax-AVN) - The situation in the Chechen Republic remains the main issue in the relations between Russia and the Council of Europe, Reino Paasilinna, the head of a Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) delegation currently on visit to Chechnya, said.
Paasilinna said PACE wants to help Chechnya achieve peace and stability and create conditions for refugees to return to their homeland.
Describing his impressions from his trip to Chechnya, Paasilinna said that what he had seen indicated positive changes. Among other things, he said that, according to his information, military action is decreasing in the republic.
The fact that Moscow helped the PACE officials to arrange a visit to Chechnya will have positive consequences for both Russia and PACE, he said.
Paasilinna gave high marks to the results of his meeting with Chechen Prime Minister Anatoly Popov, Chechen Prosecutor Vladimir Kravchenko, Grozny's Mayor Khozhakhmed Arsanov, and Military Commander Lieutenant General Yevgeny Abrashin in Grozny.
The delegation is also expected to visit a Grozny school, kindergarten, refugee accommodation centers and other facilities.