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28 February 2000

Text: OSCE Welcomes Putin Appointment

(Move could address international concerns, Ferrero-Waldner says)
(370)
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, chairperson in office of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), welcomed Russia's February
17 announcement that Acting President Vladimir Putin had appointed
Vladimir Kalamanov to be his representative for human rights in
Chechnya.
The OSCE released Ferrero-Waldner's statement in a February 28 press
release.
"This appointment has the potential to do much to address the serious
concerns of the international community about the situation of human
rights in Chechnya," Ferrero-Waldner said.
She expressed hope that Kalamanov would have the authority to work
with other human rights organizations in the region, and she asked the
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to offer its
close cooperation.
Following is the text of the OSCE release:
(begin text)
Press Release
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Chairperson-in-Office
Vienna
28 February 2000
Statement issued on the appointment of a Russian Presidential Human
Rights Representative for Chechnya
VIENNA, 28 February 2000 -- The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign
Minister of Austria Benita Ferrero-Waldner, welcomes the announcement
on 17 February 2000 that acting Russian President Vladimir Putin has
appointed a Presidential Representative for Human Rights in Chechnya,
Vladimir Kalamanov.
"This appointment has the potential to do much to address the serious
concerns of the international community about the situation of human
rights in Chechnya," said Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
In a letter to acting President Putin, Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner offered a
number of detailed recommendations on how the possibilities of the
Representative's office might best be used, including by giving him a
wide-ranging mandate to investigate all allegations of human rights
and humanitarian law violations.
The Chairperson-in-Office expressed her hope to acting President Putin
that the Presidential Representative's mandate will include
co-operation with other organizations active in this field. In this
context, the Chairperson-in-Office welcomes the efforts undertaken by
the Presidential Representative and the Council of Europe.
The Chairperson-in-Office has also asked the OSCE Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to offer close co-operation
with Mr. Kalamanov.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State Web site: usinfo.state.gov)