DATE=11/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=US-RUSSIA-OSCE (L-WRAP)
NUMBER=2-256345
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=ISTANBUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russia has bowed to international political
pressure and will allow a representative of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to
visit Chechnya to seek a political solution to the
conflict. The breakthrough came during an O-S-C-E
summit in Istanbul, Turkey. Correspondent Deborah
Tate reports.
Text: U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has agreed that
Norwegian Foreign Minister, Knut Vollebaek, would
visit Chechnya to seek a peaceful end to the conflict
- which has resulted in growing numbers of civilian
casualties and refugees.
Ms. Albright says the invitation would be included in
a final declaration to be released at the end of the
O-S-C-E summit Friday.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
So we did, I believe, accomplish what we wanted
in terms of the role of the O-S-C-E in the
Chechnya tragedies that are going on, and I
believe have made it clear that international
norms are to be respected.
/// END ACT ///
The declaration will be released only a day after Mr.
Yeltsin addressed the opening session of the O-S-C-E,
summit and defiantly rejected Western criticism of
Russia's military campaign in Chechnya as "meddling"
in his country's internal affairs.
What happened between that speech and Russia's
decision to reverse course?
There was a chorus of international calls - led by
President Clinton - for Moscow to end its bloody
crackdown and open the way toward a negotiated
settlement.
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
The strength Russia rightly is striving to
build, therefore, could be eroded by an endless
cycle of violence. The global integration
Russia has rightly sought to advance, with our
strong support, will be hindered.
/// END ACT ///
There was also a meeting between Mr. Clinton and Mr.
Yeltsin at which the U-S President reiterated his
message. And while the Russian leader repeated his
position that Chechnya was not anybody's business but
the Russians', U-S National Security Advisor Sandy
Berger said the fact that Mr. Yeltsin attended the
summit suggests he is concerned about how the
international community views his country.
/// BERGER ACT ///
I think the fact that he came , in and of
itself, is I think, an interesting fact, and
suggests that Russia does care about the
international community and seeks to maintain
its relationships with the international
community. I think he was hearing this from
people - like (French President) Jacques Chirac,
the Germans, and the President (Clinton) - who
have been supportive of Russia's democracy,
supportive of what Russia has been seeking to do
in general, not people who have been hostile.
/// END ACT ///
The issue of Chechnya overshadowed other issues
Thursday - including arms control matters discussed by
the U-S and Russian Presidents, as well as the signing
of two energy pipeline agreements.
Mr. Clinton again tried to ease concerns about U-S
plans to amend the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
to allow for a national missile defense system -
repeating that the proposal is aimed protecting the
United States from potential attack from what
Washington calls "rogue states," including Iran and
North Korea.
Mr. Yeltsin believes a U-S defense system would upset
the strategic balance and could prompt a new nuclear
arms race, and there was no indication that Mr.
Clinton's assurances changed the Russian leader's
mind.
On the pipeline agreements, Mr. Clinton witnessed the
signing of several documents that will open the way
for the construction of an oil pipeline from Baku,
Azerbaijan to Ceyhan, Turkey, and a pipeline that will
carry natural gas to Turkey from Turkmenistan.
The oil pipeline project has angered Moscow, because
it bypasses Russia. U-S officials - concerned about
potential instability in Russia - have supported the
idea of a pipeline that supplied Western markets with
oil from the rich fields of the Caspian Basin, but
that did not run through Russia. (Signed)
NEB/DAT/TVM/JP
18-Nov-1999 17:51 PM EDT (18-Nov-1999 2251 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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