DATE=4/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA PEACE MOVES (L)
NUMBER=2-261612
BYLINE=BILL GASPERINI
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian officials have confirmed that they
received a peace plan from the leader of Chechnya,
Aslan Maskhadov. But President-elect Vladimir Putin
says that the chances are slim that the bloody war in
Chechnya will end anytime soon. Bill Gasperini
reports from Moscow.
TEXT: Mr. Putin says he received an offer for peace
from Chechen President Maskhadov and that he has
already sent a reply back.
Without disclosing the contents of the offer, Mr.
Putin said he doesn't think the proposal is very
realistic...although the Kremlin is willing to await a
response.
In a newspaper interview, Mr. Maskhadov said he has
already ordered his fighters to stop all hostilities
against Russian troops as part of the plan.
But Russia doesn't believe the Chechen president can
even deliver on such a promise.
They say most Chechen fighters are loyal to other
field commanders, and that Mr. Maskhadov can't enforce
any cease-fire.
The Kremlin also says Mr. Maskhadov has no right to
call himself president. Mr. Putin has even called him
a "criminal".
The Chechen leader is believed to be hiding out with
his men somewhere in the mountains of southern
Chechnya.
Mr. Maskhadov was elected president three years ago in
an election which international observers said was
free and fair.
But the embattled Chechen leader has been unable to
control powerful commanders such as Shamil Basayev.
Many say Mr. Basayev is partly to blame for the
current conflict after he led two incursions into
neighboring Dagestan last summer.
The talk of peace comes amid new fighting in the
southern mountains, where the Chechens claim to have
attacked another Russian convoy.
A Chechen spokesman says 40 Russian soldiers were
killed in the incident, although the Kremlin denies
the attack took place. (Signed)
NEB/BG/PLM
22-Apr-2000 06:02 AM EDT (22-Apr-2000 1002 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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