DATE=2/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-259434
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian commanders are predicting rapid
victory in Chechnya as they press ahead with their
fight against rebels in the republic's southern
mountains. V-O-A Correspondent Eve Conant in Moscow
reports Russian news agencies tell of fierce fighting
in the village of Shatoi, which Chechen rebels said
they had been successfully defending.
TEXT: Russian forces are fighting for control of the
southern mountains, which they say are the last
holdouts for seven-thousand to eight-thousand Chechen
rebels. The Interfax news agency said federal troops
launched a full-scale attack on the village of Shatoi,
one of the largest rebel strongholds in the mountains.
The Itar-Tass news agency says government troops have
already seized the heights over the villages of
Selmentazhen and Makhety. Both villages are en-route
to the Argun gorge, a main entrance route into the
mountains.
Colonel General Nikolai Reznichenko told Russian
television troops are blocking the access of rebels to
other mountain districts.
/// REZNICHENKO ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE
UNDER ///
General Reznichenko says it is now impossible to pass
out of the region. He says it might be possible for
what he calls "some strong individuals" to escape to
Georgia. But he says it is not possible for large
groups of rebels or the wounded to leave.
Russia's defense minister says troops are attempting
to crush the rebels in the Argun gorge before the
mountain snow melts, freeing up presently blocked
escape routes.
Russia's air force says it is carrying out as many as
100 to 150 sorties a day over mountain positions.
Refugees were reported to be fleeing north into
Russian occupied areas of Chechnya.
The Kremlin's newly appointed human rights
representative in Chechnya, Vladimir Kalamanov, says
Russia is interested in working with international
human rights groups, but only after agreement is
reached on a definition of the term human rights.
Russia has been sharply critical of work by the U-S
based Human Rights Watch group that says it is
documenting atrocities by Russian troops in Chechnya.
The group on Tuesday accused Russian troops of killing
at least 62 civilians on the outskirts of Grozny in
early February.
Russian human rights chief Kalamanov also says
Chechens would be given the opportunity to participate
in presidential elections next month.
/// KALAMANOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE
UNDER ///
He says elections will take place in Chechnya, except
for the regions where the military operation may still
be underway. He says it is important -- in his words
-- "for our leadership to include Chechnya as an
active part of the Russian federation."
Meanwhile, Russia's military says it is concerned
rebels might stage counter-attacks on Russian troops
on Wednesday, the anniversary of the wholesale
deportation of the Chechen population in World War
Two, when Moscow accused Chechens of siding with Nazi
Germany. Security has been stepped up throughout
Russia, especially along Chechnya's borders with
neighboring republics. (Signed)
NEB/EC/JWH/LTD/JP
22-Feb-2000 11:15 AM EDT (22-Feb-2000 1615 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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