DATE=12/3/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-256791
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian forces are claiming a major
victory, saying they have seized the town of
Argun, which guards the eastern approach to the
capital Grozny. V-O-A correspondent Eve Conant
reports Moscow has responded fiercely to NATO's
recent criticism of the Chechnya campaign,
calling its concern "cynical" and accusing the
alliance of trying to worsen the situation in
Chechnya.
TEXT: Russian forces say they're moving closer to
their goal of encircling the capital after
seizing Argun, only five kilometers from Grozny.
There was no independent confirmation from
Chechen military leaders and Russian news
agencies report fighters are still inside the
town.
Russian military sources say troops are
conducting what they call a "mopping up"
operation to clear the town of any remaining
Chechen fighters. Russian General Gennady
Troshev says the people of Argun are welcoming
soldiers into the town.
/// ACT TROSHEV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER
///
The Chechen people are tired, he says. They can
see that the Russian army is the only force today
that can free them from the criminals.
But refugees fleeing the fighting into the
neighboring republic of Ingushetia accuse Russian
soldiers of blanketing entire villages with
bombs, killing civilians, and looting homes in
occupied areas. Refugees at a hospital near the
border Friday said Russian troops had fired on
their convoy as they tried to flee.
In Moscow, officials reiterated their support for
the campaign despite harsh criticism from the
West. Russia's foreign ministry lashed out
against NATO defense ministers who this week
urged Russia to show restraint in the Chechnya
offensive.
A foreign ministry statement accused the alliance
of taking a "cynical" approach to peace by urging
restraint in Chechnya so soon after NATO's
extended airstrikes over Yugoslavia. A defense
ministry chief further criticized the alliance,
calling NATO's peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo
unsuccessful and saying Russia was not interested
in renewing ties with the alliance.
Meanwhile, Russian generals in Chechnya vowed to
press on with their campaign. General Troshev
says now that the town of Argun is freed, his
troops will concentrate their next attacks on
Chechnya's southern, mountainous regions.
/// OPT /// The Associated Press quotes officials
in Ingushetia as saying Russian troops are
suffering heavy losses near the town of Urus-
Martan, 20 kilometers from Grozny. There was no
official reaction to the report, which says more
than 200 Russian soldiers were killed when their
unit was overrun by Chechen fighters. Russian
military officials have said more than two
thousand militants are defending Urus-Martan,
which Russian forces are bombarding with
artillery and air strikes. /// END OPT ///
(Signed)
NEB/EC/GE/KL
03-Dec-1999 09:03 AM EDT (03-Dec-1999 1403 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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