DATE=1/28/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA / ANNAN (L-UPDATE) (CQ)
NUMBER=2-258532
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russia's acting president, Vladimir
Putin, says Russia supports the United Nation's
humanitarian efforts in the North Caucasus, but
gave no indication to visiting U-N Secretary
General Kofi Annan that Russia would bow to
Western pressure to halt the offensive. V-O-A
Moscow correspondent Eve Conant reports Russian
security officials have stepped up safety
measures following a threat by a prominent
guerilla to strike targets in Russian cities.
TEXT: United Nations Secretary General Annan
called on Acting President Putin to take greater
measures to secure the safety of civilians
trapped in the Chechen war zone.
/// ANNAN ACT ///
We are all against terrorists and
terrorists should be rooted out. However,
the force we use against them must be
proportional and be focused on the
terrorists we are trying to get rid of. We
should be very careful to avoid situations
where violence is visited on innocent
civilians. Such situations risk violating
international law.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Annan said he expressed his wishes for the
United Nations to be able to play a greater
humanitarian role inside the breakaway republic,
not just in neighboring regions, like Ingushetia.
Acting President Putin said Russia respects the
role the United Nations has played in the
conflict so far.
/// ACT PUTIN IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER
///
Mr. Putin says, "We note with great satisfaction
that we have established a good working
relationship with the U-N and with Mr. Annan."
But despite Western pressure, there was no sign
of a letup in the offensive. Rebels and federal
troops are fighting over a strategic square in
the capital, Grozny, and Russian troops are
hitting targets in Chechnya's southern mountains.
Rebels have prevented federal troops from pushing
deeper into Grozny, where as many as 40-thousand
civilians are believed hiding in underground
shelters. However, a Russian general said Friday
that most civilians had already left Grozny for
Russian-controlled areas.
A spokesman for Russia's Federal Security
Services, Alexander Zdanovich, says officers are
taking precautionary measures following a threat
by Chechen rebels to attack targets inside
Russia.
/// ACT ZDANOVICH IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE
UNDER ///
"The threat of terrorist attacks is real," he
says. "The rebels are in a critical position and
will do anything to stop the federal advance."
A prominent guerilla leader told Reuters
Television that rebels were prepared to attack
cities in Chechnya and throughout Russia.
/// REST OPT ///
The Interfax news agency quotes security sources
as saying journalist Andrei Babitsky of Radio
Free Europe has been arrested by Russian forces
who accuse him of siding with Chechen rebels in
the offensive. Mr. Babitsky has filed highly
critical reports of the Chechnya offensive. The
report could not be independently confirmed.
(Signed)
NEB/EC/GE/KL
28-Jan-2000 10:08 AM EDT (28-Jan-2000 1508 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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