We were encouraged on Tuesday to hear Deputy Prime Minister Koshman invite the Chairperson-in-Office to Moscow and offer to escort her to Chechnya. We strongly support this trip.

We also welcome the news that Ambassador Missong and others from the Assistance Group will travel to Chechnya next week as a step toward determining whether security and other conditions would permit a return to the region.

We look forward to hearing a report on this trip, including Ambassador Missong's views on the most useful roles the Assistance Group can play in the region.

We hope the return of the Assistance Group to the North Caucasus under its existing mandate can soon be accomplished.

Mister Chairman, we continue to share the deep concerns about the human rights situation in Chechnya expressed by Human Rights Watch and other international observers.

We believe that Russia should engage with international human rights organizations to conduct prompt, transparent, objective investigations of credible allegations of atrocities and other human rights abuses. Simply dismissing such reports as propaganda is not a credible position.

Acting President Putin's appointment of a human rights ombudsman for Chechnya was a good first step and represents a real opportunity. An international component on Kalamanov's team would add credibility to his findings. We urge the Russian Federation to invite a respected foreign expert to work with Kalamanov on an ongoing basis.

Mister Chairman, we also hope Russia will take steps forward on an issue that has recently been one of the most damaging for its international reputation: the treatment of Chechen detainees. Russia has made plain that it believes the West has inaccurate information about this issue.

However, Russia cannot logically restrict access to the North Caucasus, and then turn around and complain that the international community does not understand the real situation on the ground.

If Russia is serious about addressing the information deficit, increased transparency is the best way to do so. We urge Russia to give the International Committee of the Red Cross immediate and full access to detention camps in the North Caucasus.

We were pleased to learn that Radio Liberty journalist Andrei Babitsky was released from detention, and is at home in Moscow.

There should be a full and impartial investigation into the circumstances of Babitsky's detention and his allegation that he and others were beaten at the Chernokozovo detention center.

In the interest of transparency, we urge Russia to facilitate journalists' access to the North Caucasus.