DATE=2/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-259480
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian troops and airplanes are pounding a
Chechen rebel stronghold at Shatoi, a gateway to
Chechnya's southern mountains 60-kilometers south of
Grozny. Moscow Correspondent Eve Conant reports
Chechnya's border with Russia remains sealed for fear
of Chechen counter-attacks.
TEXT: Chechen rebels are fighting to retain control
of Shatoi, a major stronghold leading into the
mountains of Chechnya. But Russian General Gennady
Troshev says federal troops have encircled several-
thousand rebels inside the Shatoi region.
/// ACT TROSHEV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER ///
He says - Shatoi is the last rebel area - all of what
remains of the rebels has been squeezed into the
region. He says - we have blocked them off and in the
near future we will be able to put an end to all this.
General Troshev estimates two-thousand rebels are
trapped inside Shatoi. The army estimates there are
as many as eight-thousand rebels in the mountains.
Moscow is concerned Chechen rebels might stage
terrorist acts or counter-attacks on Russian troops
(Wednesday), during the "Army Day" military holiday.
The day coincides with the 56th anniversary of Moscow
deporting Chechnya's population for siding with Nazi
Germany.
Chechnya's borders are sealed and security measures
have been stepped up throughout Russia. Refugees
trying to flee Chechnya were blocked from crossing
into neighboring Ingushetia.
In Moscow, British Foreign Minister Robin Cook added
to the chorus of western criticism of alleged human-
rights abuses in the Chechnya campaign. He told a
news conference Britain believes the need to fight
terrorism is no excuse for violating the human rights
of Chechens.
/// ACT COOK ///
But from our experience we know that terrorism
is defeated if action against the terrorists is
accompanied by a political process for the
people. And our people in Britain are
distressed by the pictures and the stories they
hear of humanitarian suffering within Chechnya.
/// END ACT ///
The British Foreign Minister called for Russia to be,
in his words - more open with the international
community - on conditions in Chechnya and allow for
international assistance in ending the conflict.
Russia has rejected appeals for outside help, saying
the war in Chechnya is an internal affair. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/GE/LTD/RAE
23-Feb-2000 09:55 AM EDT (23-Feb-2000 1455 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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