YASTRZHEMBSKY: Good afternoon. Tomorrow, on March 8, Acting President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will congratulate all women officials serving with the Justice Ministry, the General Prosecutor's Office and other ministries and departments, who are stationed on the Chechen Republic's territory, on the occasion of their holiday. Each lady will receive a personal picture post-card and a Novaya Zarya perfume set.
Vladimir Putin, who visited Surgut last week, addressed a local conference, suggesting that various energy companies (That conference involved energy companies, in the first place - Ed.), Russia's financial structures, businesspeople and enterprises contribute money for the Chechen post-war restoration effort. According to Putin, such companies should also render financial assistance to the families of servicemen, who were killed during the current anti-terrorist operation. Those wishing to transfer their money can find the bank account's number on the Russian Informational Centre's web site. Besides, I'd very much like wire services and news agencies to circulate such information.
The Chechen situation hasn't changed greatly since March 6. The main combat operations were still conducted in the vicinity of Komsomolskoye village. A battle still rages there, with the federals mopping up and destroying guerrilla dug-outs and pill-boxes. Paramilitary squads were spotted near Selmentauzen and in the vicinity of Ulus-Kert and Vedeno, where the fighting also continues. The militants turned Komsomolskoye into a veritable resistance centre. The Russian army used its firepower to overwhelm the militants, what with the Interior Ministry's forces subsequently mopping up. As far as Vedeno is concerned, they have told me that 63 people were detained and arrested there. Those people, who sided with local gangs, were carrying 38 assault rifles.
The Interior Ministry reports the surrender of militants in Samashki and Sernovodsk. About 60 people, who have refused to fight the federals, and who have voluntarily laid down their weapons, are now staying there. Interior Ministry forces, as well as the Interior Ministry's combined rapid-deployment squads, special-police units and temporary republican militia departments, continued to comb Shali, Urus-Martan, Argun, Martan-Chu, Achkhoi-Martan and a number of other Chechen populated localities over the last 24 hours, as they did their best to thwart local crime. 35 suspected guerrillas were apprehended, with law-enforcement officers also confiscating a lot of ammunition and firearms. All in all, more than 2,000 people were screened.
Additional acts of sabotage, as well as attacks on special militia officers and militiamen serving with a local precinct, were registered along the Chechen-Ingush administrative border. One such incident took place near Asinovskaya stanitsa (Cossack village). Besides, a prowl car belonging to the Achkhoi-Martan militia department was fired upon not far from the Caucasus checkpoint. Two militiamen were killed and another two wounded.
Here's what the Justice Ministry has to say on Chernokozovo. As of today, 110 people are staying at a local detention centre. All in all, that detention centre has already handled 849 persons, with its wardens releasing 452 inmates to date.
The Emergency Situations Ministry reports on the situation in Grozny. I'd like to draw your attention to the fact that a local bread factory, as well as field kitchens, which cater to the city's civilians, keep offering ever more bread and hot meals. As of today, more than 17,000 people have received such hot meals.
The Russian Government's Chechen mission and the temporary republican administration say that medical colleges, i.e., subsidiaries of the republican medical school, have opened in Gudermes and Shali. Yet another medical college is to open in Urus-Martan March 15. This vocation hasn't been chosen by sheer coincidence. You see, Chechnya now lacks registered nurses and junior nurses. Owing to the good offices of the Russian Federation Public Health Ministry, an additional 130 positions have now been set aside for Chechen youngsters wishing to enrol at Russian medical institutes.
Speaking about economic rehabilitation, I'd like to note that all the main efforts are now being exerted in order to defuse local oil pipelines and to restore Chechen republican gas mains because natural gas now constitutes one of the local population's main energy resources. At present 12 maintenance teams, which consist of about 1,000 men, operate on Chechen territory, repairing gas mains, as they go. Operations worth 7 million roubles are being completed each month. We must install five gas-distribution stations for the sake of ensuring uninterrupted gas deliveries all over the Chechen Republic.
Russian intelligence services have intercepted radio conversations, which imply that Yandarbiyev intends to conduct a Hadzh (pilgrimage) to Saudi Arabia, subsequently trying to meet representatives of that country's leadership. Among other things, Yandarbiyev wants to convince them to reroute all humanitarian relief aid, which is now being delivered to Chechnya via Moscow, to the so-called Ichkeria mission in Afghanistan. It ought to be mentioned in this connection that the Russian Federation Government welcomes any humanitarian relief aid to the Chechen population, i.e., aid being rendered through Russian federal structures. This is also true of Saudi Arabian aid. At the same time, we are convinced that the rerouting of such humanitarian relief aid in circumvention of the federal centre can entail loss of control over its distribution, as well as its subsequent misuse and subsequent thefts. For instance, such aid could be used to finance gangs and to enrich their leaders.
On March 6, I was asked a question about the relevant voting procedure for DP (Displaced Person) camp residents. Such a voting procedure as regards Chechen citizens living at private homes and in North Caucasian DP camps, Ingush camps included, still remains to be finalised. However, all of them shall have the right to cast their ballots at DP-camp polling stations or at local polling stations. The list of eligible voters shall be compiled in line with specific documents being issued by DP-registration offices of Russia's Interior Ministry and Federal Migration Service.
Poland's Radio Polonia radio station claims that Chechen DPs are apparently denied the right to leave for other Russian areas and to settle down there. We have asked this question to the Federal Migration Service, which says that Chechen DPs have never been prevented from leaving Ingushetia since the beginning of the anti-terrorist operation; nor do any obstacles exist today. Anyone can receive a ticket to any part of Russia or to specially equipped temporary residential centres. Apart from that, all DPs can rejoin their friends or relatives. They can also leave for specified regions and territories by prior agreement with local administrations. Still one can't say that many DPs have availed themselves of this opportunity. This can be mostly explained by the fact that they are reluctant to settle down far away from their native parts. Besides, they hope that combat operations will soon end, and that they will be able to return home. As of March 7, 2000, starting with September 27, 1999, 26,384 people have decided to leave Ingushetia for other places. Of that number, 2,700 people have left for the Central area; 6,000 people have left for other parts of the North Caucasus; 9,000 people have left for the Volga area. Another 2,000-plus DPs have left for Western Siberia. I repeat once again that 26,384 DPs have now left for other Russian regions.
ORT: Several news agencies report that the Pskov airborne division lost more than 100 men during a two-day battle on Chechen territory. Can you confirm or refute such information?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: At present I can neither confirm, nor refute such reports. To my mind, we'll ask General Shpak in charge of this country's airborne force to talk to reporters here, to cite casualty statistics over the last seven-day period and to answer their questions. Evidently, our paratroopers did sustain serious losses. General Troshev has mentioned 30 paratroopers, who found themselves in the melee. In my opinion, such casualties have increased to date because intense clashes with a large guerrilla formation, which was trying to break out, continued there all these days. The paratroopers, whose list doesn't include the Pskov division's servicemen alone, bore the brunt of the fighting. I suppose that the airborne force's high command will manage to provide an exhaustive answer by the end of this week. As of today, Russia's airborne force has lost 171 paratroopers killed since August 1999.
FRANCE PRESSE: When did the attacks near Asinovskaya and the Caucasus checkpoint occur? The Chechens claim that they control Alkhazorovo and Komsomolskoye. What can you say on this score?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: You have modestly overlooked the Chechens' claim to the effect that they also control Samashki, Starye Atagi, the Saady farm-stead, the Kirov township, as well as numerous other populated localities. I've re-checked such reports, finding out that they are not true. Indeed, a most fierce battle is now raging for Komsomolskoye. The thugs still control a few local houses. All other populated localities are controlled by the federals and commandants' offices. Speaking of Samashki, I've just told you that guerrillas, who decided to stop resisting, were detained there.
Two attacks took place March 5 and 6 near the aforesaid checkpoint. Two men were killed and another two wounded March 6.
NTV: Could you comment on your own statement to the effect that federal forces are beginning to cut local forests, as they try to deprive the militants of any shelter. Did I quote you correctly?
YASTRZHEMBSKY: No, this is not so. You can find the correct statement on the Russian Informational Centre's web site. As I see it, some radio station must have quoted me accordingly; and I think I even know the name of that radio station. Lieutenant General Babichev, who serves as chief military commandant on the territory of the Chechen Republic, reportedly decided to fell all bushes along local roads. First of all, this decision concerns dense and hard-to-control bushes, which can't be criss-crossed with paths.
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