DATE=8/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / DAGESTAN (L-ALT)
NUMBER=2-252764
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Acting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says
Russia has launched a massive operation to retake
territory seized by Islamic rebels in the mountainous
northern Caucasus republic of Dagestan. V-O-A Moscow
correspondent Peter Heinlein reports the operation
will also include sorties into the breakaway Chechnya
region.
TEXT: On a trip to the Siberian city of Tomsk, acting
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that a large-
scale offensive has begun against rebels holding
several villages in mountains of Dagestan. Mr. Putin
says Russian troops will strike at the insurgents
wherever they are -- especially inside Chechnya, which
borders Dagestan.
/// PUTIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
He says, "We will be carrying out strikes against
Chechnya, against guerrilla bases, and places where
bandits gather. Chechnya is Russian territory." He
adds, "Wherever bandits appear, they will be
eliminated -- No matter whether in Chechnya or not."
Chechen fighters inflicted an embarrassing defeat on
Russian troops in the mid-1990's, resulting in virtual
independence for Chechnya. The government of the
breakaway region has maintained neutrality in the
current fighting, but Russian officials say rebels in
Dagestan are operating out of bases in Chechnya and
crossing the border freely.
In a telephone interview, Chechen government spokesman
Mayarbek Vachagayev accused Russia of trying to drag
the breakaway region into the fighting.
/// VACHAGAYEV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
He says, "From the very beginning it was obvious that
Russia was interested in linking this (situation in
Dagestan) to Chechnya."
Mr. Vachagayev says Chechen officials have been saying
to anyone who would listen for months that Chechnya
was not involved in destabilizing Dagestan. He
adds, "if we had wanted to start an uprising in
Dagestan, the fighting would be in the capital,
Makhachkala, and not in the remote mountains along
the border.
When asked about the fact that renegade Chechen
warlord Shamil Basayev is commanding the rebels in
Dagestan, Mr. Vachagayev said his government objects,
but can do little about Mr. Basayev's private
activities outside the region's borders.
In day seven of the fighting, Russia was reported
sending reinforcements to bolster the mostly irregular
Dagestani volunteers battling the rebels on the
ground. Five large military transport planes arrived
in Makhachkala Thursday, and four more were due
Friday.
Russian interior ministry officials say at least 200
rebels were killed in the first six days of fighting.
Russia's casualties were put at about 11 dead and 200
injured, including three Interior Ministry generals
who were hurt when their helicopter was shot down
Thursday.
Rebel sources dispute those government figures. They
say only five insurgent fighters were killed as of
Thursday, and that government losses were far higher.
Those numbers could not be verified, but both sides
in the past have exaggerated enemy casualty figures,
while minimizing their own. (Signed)
NEB/PFH/JWH/WTW
13-Aug-1999 08:10 AM EDT (13-Aug-1999 1210 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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