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DATE=11/1/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON-CHECHNYA ONITER (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255711
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=OSLO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  President Clinton meets Russian Prime Minister 
Vladimir Putin today (Tuesday) on the sidelines of the 
Middle East summit in Oslo. U-S officials say Mr. 
Clinton will urge Russia to restrain its military 
offensive in Chechnya. V-O-A's David Gollust has more 
from the Norwegian capital.
TEXT:  U-S officials have watched the Chechnya 
fighting with increasing alarm. Aides say Mr. Clinton 
will express his personal concern to the Russian Prime 
Minister about the escalating violence, including what 
they say has been the indiscriminate use of force on 
innocent civilians.
Briefing reporters here, Clinton spokesman Joe 
Lockhart says that while the United States considers 
the troubled area in the Caucasus to be a part of 
Russia, it is worried about a spillover effect that 
could upset the stability of the region:
            /// LOCKHART ACTUALITY ///
      We certainly recognize Russian sovereignty here. 
      But we've expressed at many levels of our 
      government increasing concern over the 
      escalating violence and made it very clear that 
      a military solution cannot work here and there 
      has to be a political dialogue. And I think the 
      message the President will send directly is that 
      the Russians should be pro-active in engaging in 
      that political dialogue.
            /// END ACT ///
Because of the Chechnya conflict, Russia has 
acknowledged breaching limits on its deployment of 
tanks, aircraft and other weapons in the region under 
the Conventional Forces in Europe or C-F-E treaty
Mr. Lockhart says C-F-E concerns will be part of Mr. 
Clinton's agenda with Mr. Putin. The spokesman says 
the Administration appreciates that Russia has been 
"quite transparent" in admitting the C-F-E violations, 
which Moscow says are only temporary.
Anticipating U-S criticism, Prime Minister Putin told 
reporters here Monday Russia is acting in Chechnya in 
legitimate self defense.  Heard through an 
interpreter, he framed the conflict with Muslim 
separatists as a struggle against international 
terrorists, and likened it to last week's attack by 
gunmen on the Armenian parliament:
            /// PUTIN-TRANSLATOR ACTUALITY ///
      The fight against terrorism is an especially 
      important topic for us because of the recent 
      developments in our country, specifically in the 
      Northern Caucasus and in Chechnya. We understand 
      that terrorism is a very serious disease and if 
      not curtailed on a timely basis it would strike 
      a very serious blow to any nation and any 
      country, as was recently the case in Armenia
            /// END ACT ///
Mr. Putin said no country in the world would put up 
with what Russia is experiencing in Chechnya.
Though Chechnya is likely to dominate the meeting, 
President Clinton and Mr. Putin are also expected to 
discuss arms control -- including Administration 
efforts to persuade Russia to allow changes in the 
1972 anti-ballistic missile treaty to accommodate a 
limited U-S defense system, aimed against so-called 
"rogue" states.  (Signed)
NEB/DAG/TVM/gm
01-Nov-1999 17:27 PM EDT (01-Nov-1999 2227 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.