DATE=4/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA / EUROPE (L UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-261051
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A delegation from the European Union visiting
Moscow says Russia wants to improve relations with
Europe despite its increasing anti-western statements.
V-O-A Moscow Correspondent Eve Conant also reports
Russia has ordered an end to all Chechnya fact-finding
missions by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe, or PACE, in response to its vote Thursday
to propose suspending Russia's membership.
TEXT: The European Union's foreign policy chief,
Javier Solana, urged Russia to avoid diplomatic
confrontation with Europe and to investigate
allegations of human rights abuses in Chechnya.
/// SOLANA ACT ///
I would like say that we have sensed today a
good will to try to cooperate -- at least to
cooperate with us. As you know, the O-S-C-E
[EDS: Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe] is coming next week. They will have
an opportunity to open an office in Chechnya,
and the troika of the ambassadors of the
European Union in Moscow are going to be allowed
to go. Therefore there are positive steps which
are coupled with the idea of a credible
investigation.
/// END ACT ///
The E-U delegation said President-elect Vladimir Putin
told them he will make a proposal next week for a
political solution to the Chechnya conflict. They
said such a move represents a positive turn in
Russia's relations with the rebellious republic. But
the Interfax news agency says the Kremlin denied a
political settlement was discussed, although the topic
of Chechnya was raised.
Mr. Putin told the European envoys Russia is
interested in cooperation despite Thursday's decision
by the Council of Europe. He said the vote was due to
a lack of information.
/// PUTIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER
///
Mr. Putin says he believes Russia is protecting not
only its own interests, but also those of Europe by
guarding it from what he calls "this type of extremism
that we see in Chechnya." Mr. Putin adds, "When this
is understood by the European lawmakers, then I
believe their attitude will change."
The Council of Europe and other international
organizations are demanding that Russia answer to
allegations of human rights abuses in Chechnya,
including reports of rape, robbery, summary
executions, and torture of inmates at detention camps
in the breakaway republic. Russia denies the
allegations of wide scale abuses.
Earlier Friday, Kremlin aide Sergey Yastrzhembsky said
Russia will prohibit Council of Europe delegations
from conducting fact-finding missions in Chechnya, and
he said Russia's military will carry out its "anti-
terrorist operation" to completion.
/// YASTRZHEMBSKY ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE
UNDER ///
He says Russia needs the Council of Europe just as
much as the council needs Russia. He adds that if the
Council of Europe once believed it could claim a role
in solving problems relating to Chechnya -- in his
words - "now this door has been slammed shut due to
their overly emotional deputies."
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told a visiting
delegation from the European Union that the vote would
complicate Russia's relationship with the Council of
Europe.
/// IVANOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER
///
He says it is unfortunate that European lawmakers are
still living with what he calls "the stereotypes of
the Cold War."
On Friday, Russian warplanes carried out new strikes
against what the military describes as rebel positions
in Chechnya's southern mountains. (Signed)
NEB/EC/JWH/JP
07-Apr-2000 12:09 PM EDT (07-Apr-2000 1609 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
