DATE=10/19/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGRESS-RUSSIA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255242
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A letter from Russian President Boris Yeltsin
to President Clinton got a quick public response in
Washington. In the letter, the Russian leader tried
to ease Western concerns about the fighting in
Chechnya. Shortly after its arrival, a top Clinton
administration official re-emphasized those concerns
during an appearance before a congressional committee.
V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports from Capitol Hill.
TEXT: Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott had
planned to focus his remarks on overall Russia policy.
Instead, he put his prepared text aside and talked
about Chechnya.
/// First Talbott act ///
If this situation does not develop in a
favorable and acceptable manner, it will
jeopardize everything else we are talking about
of a positive nature in Russia today.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Talbott did not refer directly to the Yeltsin
letter. But the tone of his remarks was unmistakable.
His words on Chechnya were diplomatic, but stronger
than any uttered before by an administration official
in congressional testimony.
/// Second Talbott Act ///
A spread of violence in the region will be
contrary to everyone's interest except those who
rely on violence as a means to their political
ends, including the political end of separatism
or tearing parts of Russia out of the Russian
federation.
/// End Act///
Moscow's latest offensive in Chechnya followed a
series of bomb blasts in Russian cities. Mr. Talbott
said Moscow has a right to protect its citizens. But
he urged Russian leaders to think long and hard before
launching a full-scale assault.
/// Third Talbott Act ///
Russia's last war in Chechnya from 1994 to 1996
demonstrated that there cannot be a purely
military solution to the problem there.
/// End Act ///
In a philosophical moment, the Deputy Secretary of
State said perhaps Washington should have taken a
stronger stand during the Chechen war.
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher - a strong critic of the
administation's Russia policy - took note of those
remarks. The California Republican said the United
States has not done enough to challenge Taleban forces
in Afghanistan that support the Chechen rebels.
/// OPT Rohrabacher Act ///
Is it not true that the miserable failure of
this administration in Afghanistan is what has
brought about this Chechen war? Isn't Chechnya
being financed by drug money from Afghanistan?
/// End Optional Act ///
Mr. Talbott agreed that there has been - as he put it
- an "internationalization" of the conflict.
/// Optional Fourth Talbott Act ///
There is no question that radical elements
operating from bases out of Chechnya have had
support from elsewhere, primarily from the arc
of countries from the Arabian peninsula to South
Asia.
/// End Optional Act ///
He said the United States has stressed to Russia that
this terrorist network poses a threat to many
countries. Mr. Talbott urged Moscow to see the
problem in the north Caucasus in a global context and
to seek international cooperation to help bring peace
to the region. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/JP
19-Oct-1999 14:36 PM EDT (19-Oct-1999 1836 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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