DATE=12/13/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-257098
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian troops are advancing into rebel-held
southern Chechnya, capturing several towns while
holding back on a threatened massive assault against
the capital, Grozny. V-O-A's Peter Heinlein in Moscow
also reports Chechen fighters have shot down another
Russian warplane, but have lost control of Grozny's
airport.
TEXT: Russian General Gennady Troshev has ordered the
town of Shali, 20 kilometers southeast of the capital,
to surrender or face destruction. Shali is the only
sizable Chechen town still in rebel hands aside from
Grozny.
General Troshev told Russia's N-T-V television channel
he met Shali's elders and advised them to immediately
raise a Russian flag over the town. He said he would
rather not see any more blood shed, but added, "war
is war."
/// TROSHEV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
He says, "No matter what, the town of Shali will be
emptied. If anyone is found there, they will be
destroyed."
A similar ultimatum was issued to Grozny last week.
But it was rescinded after an international outcry
over the fate of civilians still in the city.
/// OPT /// Russia's defense minister, Igor
Sergeyev, Monday ruled out a full-scale assault
against the capital. He predicted civilians would
force Chechen fighters out and allow federal troops
in, as appears to be happening in Shali and other
towns and cities.
/// OPT // SERGEYEV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER
///
/// OPT /// He says, "We are getting more and more
support among Chechens who believe they can settle the
issue of Grozny by themselves." The general added,
"There will be no large-scale operation with heavy
casualties on both sides." /// END OPT ///
Russian artillery pounded the capital overnight, hours
after planes air-dropped leaflets advising that more
exit routes are being opened for civilians wishing to
flee.
The Russian military command Monday reported the loss
of a warplane flying a combat mission over Chechnya.
The semi-official Interfax news agency reports the
plane was shot down, but the pilot ejected. There was
no immediate word on his fate.
Meanwhile, Russian troops regained control of
Chechnya's main airport in a Grozny suburb. The
airport was a main Russian military base during the
last war. It was one of the first targets hit by
warplanes at the start of the current conflict, and
has since been out of action.
In Moscow Monday, the Duma, or lower house of
parliament, approved an amnesty for Chechen fighters
who surrender their weapons by February First. Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin told lawmakers rumors of the
amnesty had already prompted many rebels to turn
themselves in.
/// REST OPT ///
In another development, Russia's foreign ministry
denounced NATO commanding General Wesley Clark's
comparison of the Chechen offensive to Serbia's
repression of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. General
Clark last week urged Russia to seek a political
solution in Chechnya, adding that he thought Russia
was doing what Serbia tried to do in Kosovo.
A foreign ministry statement described the comment as
"unacceptable" and advised General Clark to, in its
words, "stop preaching". (Signed)
NEB/PFH/JWH/kl
13-Dec-1999 10:02 AM EDT (13-Dec-1999 1502 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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