DATE=4/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SENATE-CHECHNYA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260940
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Clinton administration has joined in
demanding an investigation of human-rights abuses in
Chechnya, but stopped short of calling them war
crimes. V-O-A's David Swan reports, some members of
Congress have no such hesitation.
TEXT: At a Senate hearing (Tuesday), Deputy Secretary
of State Strobe Talbott said again the Chechen war has
badly damaged Russia's standing. He urged Moscow to
take a hard look at reports of looting, torture and
killings by Russian troops in the region.
// TALBOTT ACT //
First, there must be a prompt, serious
investigation of credible charges of atrocities.
That means a process put in place to hold
accountable those responsible for what are very
credibly alleged to have been human-rights
outrages.
// END ACT //
The statement echoes a call by U-N Human Rights
Commissioner Mary Robinson, who visited Chechyna this
week and was denied access to certain areas. She says
there are serious, documented accounts of rights
violations.
But under repeated questioning from senators, Mr.
Talbott declined to characterize such incidents as war
crimes. He rejects comparisons with last year's
Yugoslav government assault on Kosovo (province).
// TALBOTT ACT //
We must be careful about the words that we use
and make sure we understand what they mean,
including in terms of their implications and the
necessary international legal and diplomatic
follow-up.
// END ACT //
Members of both parties challenged Mr. Talbott's
assessment. Democrat Patrick Leahy argues there is no
other way to describe Russia's actions.
// LEAHY ACT //
If there is civilian control of the army then I
have to assume within that civilian control, up
to and including the president of Russia - the
president-elect (Putin) - that they must know
who has been involved with it. A war crime is a
war crime is a war crime, and these are war
crimes.
// END ACT //
Senators also asked whether foreign aid, from the
United States or elsewhere, may have helped Moscow
fight the Chechens. Some lawmakers have recently said
U-S assistance should be stopped or sharply curtailed
as long as the conflict goes on. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/RAE
04-Apr-2000 13:00 PM EDT (04-Apr-2000 1700 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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