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Military

USIS Washington File

09 December 1999

Text: U.S. Statement on Chechnya to OSCE Permanent Council Dec. 9

(Cites Russia's invitation to Vollebaek, concern about Groznyy) (600)
In a statement to the Permanent Council of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) December 9, the United
States welcomed Russia's invitation to OSCE Chairman-in-Office Knut
Vollebaek to visit the North Caucasus December 14-15.
But U.S. Representative to the OSCE David T. Johnson also expressed
the United States' "deep and continuing concern about reports that the
Russian Government has dropped leaflets over Groznyy warning all
residents to leave the city by December 11 or 'be destroyed.'"
Johnson went on to reiterate U.S. concerns that the means Russia has
chosen to fight terrorism do not sufficiently differentiate between
legitimate
military targets and civilians, as well as U.S. hopes that Russia will
seek a
political solution.
The United States also reminded Russia "to take special care to
respect the independence and security concerns of neighboring states
such as Georgia and Azerbaijan."
Following is the text of Ambassador Johnson's statement:
(begin text)
U.S. MISSION TO THE OSCE
Vienna, Austria
December 9, 1999
STATEMENT ON CHECHNYA DELIVERED BY AMBASSADOR DAVID T. JOHNSON TO THE
PERMANENT COUNCIL, VIENNA
Mr. Chairman, we welcome your report on the Chairman-in-Office
Vollebaek's plans to visit the North Caucasus December 14-15 and we
welcome Russia's invitation for him to make that visit.
We hope and expect this visit will become the start of the political
process that can address the whole spectrum of issues outlined in the
Istanbul Summit Declaration, to which all of us agreed. We continue to
urge all sides to seek a political solution. We look forward to the
report next Wednesday afternoon of Minister Vollebaek's findings and a
discussion of how we follow-up on his work.
At the same time as we welcome your announcement and the Russian
Federation's invitation, we must express our deep and continuing
concern about reports that the Russian Government has dropped leaflets
over Groznyy warning all residents to leave the city by December 11 or
"be destroyed."
We are deeply troubled by the implication that the defeat of terrorist
requires the destruction of an entire city, including the homes and
workplaces of innocent civilians and the physical infrastructure that
sustains their lives.
This method of work threatens to victimize all citizens of Groznyy,
but particularly the infirm, elderly, families with young children and
those who are simply too afraid to flee in the midst of an ongoing
bombardment and artillery barrage -- or those who simply feel they
have nowhere to go.
We believe it incumbent on the Government of Russia to differentiate
between legitimate military targets and civilians.
To act otherwise is inconsistent with Russia's Code of Conduct and
Geneva Convention commitments, which require one to ensure that the
use of force is commensurate and that armed forces "take due care to
avoid injury to civilians or their property."
Mr. Chairman, as we and others have said before -- the President
[said] as late as last night -- we do not question Russia's right or
responsibility to fight terrorism or insurgencies on its soil.
However, we are increasingly concerned by the means Russia has chosen
to do so.
We call on Russia once again to initiate a dialogue with the goal of
finding a political solution.
Finally, we would again remind Russia to take special care to respect
the independence and security concerns of neighboring states such as
Georgia and Azerbaijan.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State)



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