DATE=9/21/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA CAUCASUS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254151
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The leaders of two southern Russian republics
bordering breakaway Chechnya have held an unauthorized
meeting with the Chechen president amid growing fears
of a new Caucasian war. V-O-A Moscow Correspondent
Peter Heinlein reports that Russia, angered by bombs
that killed hundreds of civilians, is continuing a
military buildup along the Chechen border.
TEXT: As Russian jets rained bombs on suspected rebel
positions in Chechnya (Tuesday), the presidents of
the neighboring republics of Ingushetia and North
Ossetia confirmed they had met Chechen President Aslan
Maskhadov. The meeting was held at the small Ingush
town of Magan a few kilometers from the Chechen
border.
A spokesman says the three regional leaders discussed
the current hostilities in nearby Dagestan, where
Russia has amassed a force estimated at 20-thousand
troops to battle Chechen-led rebels.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says the
objective is to seal off the breakaway region, but
many military analysts here believe Russia is intent
on reversing the humiliating defeat it suffered in
Chechnya three years ago.
President Boris Yeltsin has described the earlier
Chechen campaign as the biggest mistake of his
presidency.
The Itar-Tass news agency reports the three regional
leaders meeting in Magan discussed ways local law
enforcement groups could prevent what are called
"bandits" from Chechnya crossing into neighboring
republics. But Ingushetia's president was quoted as
saying no steps have been taken to seal the Chechen
frontier.
Journalists and others familiar with the terrain say
an attempt to blockade Chechnya would be almost
impossible, as well as expensive. President Maskhadov
himself has said there is little his forces or anyone
else can do to prevent illegal border crossings,
especially in remote, rugged mountain areas.
Moreover, analysts in Moscow say Mr. Maskhadov has
little control over rebel groups operating from
Chechen territory.
But in an interview published this week in a Moscow
magazine, President Maskhadov warned Russian military
strategists against any attempt to retake the
breakaway region. In a reference to the troop buildup
along the Chechnya/Dagestan border, Mr. Maskhadov said
"Never again will we allow" Russian troops to march to
the center of the Chechen capital, Grozny. (Signed)
NEB/PFH/JWH/gm
21-Sep-1999 13:25 PM EDT (21-Sep-1999 1725 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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