DATE=2/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CLINTON / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-259574
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President Clinton is urging Moscow to allow
international investigators into Chechnya to probe
reports of Russian atrocities against Chechen
citizens. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports.
Text: In an appearance before reporters Friday to
discuss his plans to help Native Americans, Mr.
Clinton was asked about new video footage apparently
showing Russian troops piling bodies of bound Chechen
men into a mass grave.
Although Russia has opened its own investigation, the
president called for international bodies to conduct a
probe. He chose his words carefully as he expressed
his concern.
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY ///
The reports are very troubling. But they
again make the case for the right kind of
unfettered access to Chechnya and the people
there by the appropriate international agencies.
In every conflict of any duration there are
always excesses. I am not excusing anything.
/// END ACT ///
Earlier, White House spokesman Joe Lockhart had said
the White House could not validate the pictures, but
said there are enough credible reports of human rights
violations in Chechnya to warrant a full and open
investigation into such abuses.
At the U-S State Department (Friday), Secretary
Madeleine Albright released a human rights report that
underscored U-S concerns about the indiscriminate use
of force in Chechnya.
The report, in its review of Russia's human rights
record in 1999, expressed concerns about Russian
troops killing, raping and torturing Chechen
civilians. (Signed)
NEB/DAT/KL
25-Feb-2000 15:12 PM EDT (25-Feb-2000 2012 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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