Text: Russian Operation in Chechnya Clouds OSCE Meetings
(Rosenblatt urges restraint, dialogue) (760)
Josiah Rosenblatt, deputy chief of the U.S. mission to the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said
November 16 that Russia's "disproportionate" military campaign in
Chechnya "hangs over our deliberations."
Rosenblatt made his remarks at the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation
in Istanbul, where the OSCE Summit will be held November 18-19.
While Russia, like every other nation, has the right to defend its
territory and citizens from terrorism, Rosenblatt said, that right
does not extend to "indiscriminate use of military force" without
regard to civilian casualties.
"The United States therefore strongly urges the Russian Federation to
exercise restraint, and to redouble its efforts to avoid both the
indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force and further injury to
civilians and their property," Rosenblatt said.
He also criticized Russia for being "wedded to the idea of solving the
problem they face in Chechnya through purely military means. There
needs to be -- sooner rather than later -- a political dialogue
between Russian authorities and legitimate Chechen partners that
ultimately leads to a political resolution of this situation,"
Rosenblatt said.
Following is the text of Rosenblatt's statement:
(begin text)
U.S. MISSION TO THE OSCE
November 16, 1999
Statement on Chechnya
Delivered by Deputy Chief of Mission Josiah Rosenblatt
to the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation, Istanbul
Mr. Chairman, the shadow of the Russian military's continuing
disproportionate use of force in Chechnya hangs over our deliberations
in the Forum today. We remain disturbed by information -- including
accounts from refugees to the Chairmanship fact-finding mission --
about the indiscriminate use of military force that has struck
civilian targets and victimized the civilian population. We find, as
did the Chairmanship's Mission, these accounts to be credible by their
frequency and consistency.
While we have made clear that Russia has the right to defend its
territorial integrity and to combat terrorism, our acknowledgment of
these objectives does not extend to condoning civilian casualties.
The United States therefore strongly urges the Russian Federation to
exercise restraint, and to redouble its efforts to avoid both the
indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force and further injury to
civilians and their property, consistent with its commitments in
paragraph 36 of the Code of Conduct.
We are also deeply concerned that Russian authorities seem to remain
wedded to the idea of solving the problem they face in Chechnya
through purely military means, and worry that the recent entry of
Russian forces into Gudermes will further encourage those who advocate
this approach.
There needs to be -- sooner rather than later -- a political dialogue
between Russian authorities and legitimate Chechen partners that
ultimately leads to a political resolution of this situation.
We urge the Russian government -- bearing in mind its commitments in
paragraph 19 of the Code of Conduct -- to pursue urgently a political
solution to the conflict. The United State remains convinced that only
through a political settlement will it be possible for the Russian
Federation to achieve durable stability and security in the region. We
encourage Russia to look at how the OSCE can play a useful role.
We also urge Russian authorities, consistent with their commitments in
paragraph 19 of the Code of Conduct, to facilitate the movement of
displaced persons and humanitarian assistance in order to alleviate
the suffering of the civilian population of Chechnya. It is critical
that Russia deal with the immediate humanitarian problem, particularly
with the onset of winter weather in the area.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, we call on the Russian Federation to remain
transparent regarding its concentration of forces and military
operations in the North Caucasus. The Russian Federation's October 28
Vienna Document notification was an important step toward compliance
with its Vienna Document commitments. Developments in the operations
of Russian forces in the North Caucasus since October 28 indicate that
the overall operation may have entered a new phase. We therefore
encourage the Russian Federation to update its notification as
circumstances evolve.
We would also be interested in hearing from the Russian Federation
about its plans to issue invitations to an observation of this
military activity, as was noted in the notification of October 28.
Such transparency, consistent with the Vienna Document, will
contribute to our ability -- as individual states and as an
organization -- to assess thoroughly this situation, which is of
concern to all OSCE states.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State)
