DATE=1/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-258148
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: At a meeting with Russia's acting president in
Moscow on Monday, officials from the Council of Europe
urged the Russian leader to stop the military campaign
in Chechnya. But as V-O-A Moscow correspondent Eve
Conant reports, Russian forces are intensifying air
attacks over Chechnya's southern mountains and
military officials say they will soon seize the rebel
capital, Grozny.
TEXT: The president of the Council of Europe's
parliamentary assembly, David Russell-Johnston, urged
Russia's acting President Vladimir Putin to halt the
military offensive. Mr. Russell-Johnson said the
human rights body is concerned about what he called
Russia's indiscriminate bombing and shelling in the
breakaway republic, and the growing number of civilian
casualties.
But during his first talks with Western leaders about
Chechnya since becoming acting President, Mr. Putin
said the West is relying too heavily on questionable
media reports.
/// PUTIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
He says Russia understands the concern of the world
community over events in the northern Caucasus. But
he says Russia wants the international community to
understand its position -- which is based on what he
calls "the real situation, not propaganda reports."
The 41-nation Council of Europe has repeatedly called
for political dialogue and an end to the military
offensive. The Council delegation is expected to
visit the Caucasus Tuesday and Wednesday, including a
possible trip to Russian-occupied parts of Chechnya.
But Mr. Russell-Johnston seemed to back away from
earlier comments that the Council might consider
suspending Russia's membership -- saying it is too
early to discuss such measures.
/// RUSSELL-JOHNSTON ACT ///
This is just the first day of our visit. We
expressed the views that have already been set
out by the Assembly in resolutions concerning
the cease-fire, concerning negotiations,
concerning the free movement of refugees and
access of humanitarian organizations.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Russell-Johnston said Mr. Putin had been open to
suggestions and signaled he would accept an
international presence in Ingushetia and parts of
Chechnya.
Meanwhile, Russia's military is stepping up air
attacks in Chechnya's southern mountains. Officers
say they are in the decisive phase of the campaign.
Generals say they expect to fully control the rebel
capital, Grozny, in the near future and that military
headquarters will soon be relocated inside Chechnya.
Russian General Gennady Troshev says troops are
working to block rebels from leaving their mountain
bases.
/// TROSHEV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
He says, "We are discussing the safe blockage of the
mountains so that not one rebel dares to escape." But
he said troops in the mountains are experiencing what
he called "pressure" from the rebels.
/// REST OPT ///
Chechens won a small diplomatic coup on Sunday when
Afghanistan formally recognized Chechnya as an
independent state. But Afghanistan's Islamic Taleban
movement is itself struggling for international
recognition.
Russia's foreign minister responded to Afghanistan's
decision by calling for a tightening of sanctions
against the Taleban. (Signed)
NEB/EC/JWH/KL
17-Jan-2000 13:47 PM EDT (17-Jan-2000 1847 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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