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29 February 2000

Text: U.S. Statement on Chechnya to OSCE Permanent Council Feb. 29

(Transparent, impartial investigation of rights violations needed)
(1,200)
"The U.S. welcomes the appointment of Vladimir Kalamanov as Special
Presidential Representative for Human Rights in Chechnya," the
Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) was told February 29 in Vienna. "It is vital that his
work be seen by the international community as transparent and
objective."
The U.S. statement on Chechnya was delivered by the Charge d'Affaires
of the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, Josiah B. Rosenblatt.
"We once again call upon the Russian Federation to conduct a full,
transparent and impartial investigation of the credible allegations of
human rights violations and atrocities committed by Russian forces in
Grozny, Alkhan-Yurt and elsewhere in Chechnya," Rosenblatt said, "and
of the circumstances that led to the disappearance of Radio Liberty
reporter Andrei Babitsky."
He told the Permanent Council the United States believes it would be
useful to reactivate the OSCE Assistance Group in the North Caucasus
under its existing mandate and thus welcomes the news that the group
will go to Chechnya next week "as an essential first step" for its
eventual return to the region.
Rosenblatt said the United States is pleased with Russia's invitation
to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to visit Moscow and Chechnya and
that it expects "full compliance by Russia with paragraph 23" of the
Declaration of the 1999 OSCE Summit in Istanbul which called for
"respecting OSCE norms, alleviating the hardships of civilians, and
allowing OSCE assistance in achieving a political solution."
On a related subject -- the adapted Conventional Forces in Europe
treaty (CFE) signed at the Istanbul Summit -- Rosenblatt said the
United States expects Russia to comply with the commitments on
military deployments that were a prerequisite for the treaty's
conclusion.
"If we are to preserve the benefits of CFE and secure ratification of
the adapted treaty, Russia will need to make good on the commitment in
all its aspects," he said, and he called on Russia to provide data on
current force levels and reductions in Chechnya and "to allow treaty
partners to confirm the data."
In conclusion, Rosenblatt said Russia's recent decision to deny a
German Vienna Document inspection team access to key areas outside the
region of conflict "does not send a positive signal."
Following is the text of the U.S. statement on Chechnya:
(begin text)
U.S. MISSION TO THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN
EUROPE (OSCE) Vienna
February 29, 2000
Statement on Chechnya Delivered by Charge d'Affaires Josiah B.
Rosenblatt to the Permanent Council
We join in welcoming Deputy Prime Minister Koshman to Vienna, and
express our appreciation for his willingness to brief the Permanent
Council on the very serious events that have taken place in Chechnya
over the last several months. The U.S. welcomes the appointment of
Vladimir Kalamanov as Special Presidential Representative for Human
Rights in Chechnya. It is vital that his work be seen by the
international community as transparent and objective. To that end, we
urge early engagement with international human rights organizations,
perhaps by inviting a respected expert to consult with Kalamanov's
team on an on-going basis.
We once again call upon the Russian Federation to conduct a full,
transparent and impartial investigation of the credible allegations of
human rights violations and atrocities committed by Russian forces in
Grozny, Alkhan-Yurt and elsewhere in Chechnya, and of the
circumstances that led to the disappearance of Radio Liberty reporter
Andrei Babitsky.
Ultimately, the Russian Federation needs to initiate a political
dialogue with a view to finding a peaceful resolution of the conflict
in Chechnya.
We believe it would be useful to reactivate the OSCE Assistance Group
in the North Caucasus under its existing mandate. This mandate states
that it is to enjoy "all possible freedom of movement on the territory
of the Chechen Republic and also on the territory of neighboring
subjects of the Russian Federation, if so required for the performance
of its tasks."
The Assistance Group's mandate was approved in April 1995 by this
Council and remains in effect.
We welcome the news that Ambassador Missong and other members of the
Assistance Group will go to Chechnya next week as an essential first
step for the Assistance Group's eventual return to the region.
We recognize that security problems may force OSCE personnel to
re-establish their presence, whether in Chechnya or Ingushetiya, only
gradually. We are also pleased to hear of the Russian invitation to
the Chairperson-in-Office to visit Moscow and Chechnya. We encourage
that visit and hope it can take place promptly.
Madame Chairperson, the U.S. expects full compliance by Russia with
paragraph 23 of the Istanbul Declaration, which called for respecting
OSCE norms, alleviating the hardships of civilians, and allowing OSCE
assistance in achieving a political solution.
We encourage the Russian Government to expand the ICRC's role in the
North Caucasus to monitor conditions in detention and refugee camps in
Chechnya. We also call on the Russian Federation to engage with
international organizations to help internally displaced persons.
Madame Chairperson, with regard to the entire range of issues
affecting the operation of international organizations in Chechnya, we
note here our longstanding and unchanging affirmation of the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian Federation with
regard to Chechnya. We recognize that Mr. Koshman's responsibilities
do not include military deployments, but we would like him to carry a
strong message back to Moscow that we also expect compliance by Russia
with its commitments contained in the Final Act of November 19.
Acting President Putin's commitment that Russia would return to
adapted CFE flank levels as soon as possible was a prerequisite for
conclusion of the adapted CFE Treaty at the Istanbul Summit.
If we are to preserve the benefits of CFE and secure ratification of
the adapted treaty, Russia will need to make good on the commitment in
all its aspects. We believe that is the view of many other treaty
signatories as well.
Recent indications from Russian authorities -- via a Vienna Document
notification last week -- of a modest reduction in Russian levels of
tanks, artillery, and ACV's engaged in Chechnya is positive news. In
the absence of more information from Russia regarding CFE implications
of this reduction, we cannot judge whether this translates into a step
towards fulfillment of the Putin commitment.
We call upon Russia to provide detailed, disaggregated data with
regard to its current force levels in the region, and promised
reductions. Russia needs to make good on the commitment to
transparency which is at the core of the November statement; and to
allow treaty partners to confirm the data provided by Russia, Russia
will need to offer the additional on-site inspections promised in the
Putin statement.
Finally, we await Russia's invitation to a Vienna Document observation
visit in the region in the near future, as required by that document.
In that regard, the Russian decision not to allow a recent German
Vienna Document inspection team access to key areas outside the region
of conflict does not send a positive signal.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)