DATE=5/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261986
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian officials today/Thursday denied
reports they are planning to hold peace negotiations
with Chechen leaders. V-O-A Moscow Correspondent Eve
Conant says the denial comes as Chechen snipers are
attacking military checkpoints in federally held
territory and clashes continue in Chechnya's southern
mountains.
TEXT: Russia's defense minister, Igor Sergeyev, says
Russian troops are in control of the conflict in
Chechnya and refuted continuing media reports that
Russian officials are planning to hold peace talks
with Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov.
Russian news agencies quoted the defense minister as
saying there would be no negotiations until Moscow's
terms are met. Those terms include Chechen
recognition of the Russian constitution, the release
of all hostages held in the breakaway republic and an
end to combat operations.
Russian presidential spokesman Sergey Yastrzhembsky
also told a news conference (Thursday) that no talks
with the Chechen leadership had taken place, nor were
any talks underway. Kremlin officials insist Chechen
leader Aslan Maskhadov is not in control of armed
groups in Chechnya.
/// OPT /// Mr. Yastrzhembsky told reporters the
departure of the Chechen leader's wife from the
breakaway republic was a sign Mr. Maskhadov is not
in charge.
/// OPT // ACT YASTRZHEMBSKY - IN RUSSIAN - FADE
UNDER ///
/// OPT /// He says, "Our information shows we
cannot exclude the possibility that Mr. Maskhadov is
being threatened by Chechen warlords." But he says
that is an internal Chechen matter that Russian
officials are not watching closely. /// END OPT
///
Kremlin spokesman Yastrzhembsky said more than 30
Russian soldiers had been killed in Chechnya during
the past week, with more than 100 wounded. He said
dozens of rebels had been killed, and their weapons
either destroyed or confiscated.
Russian and Chechen sources are reporting that rebels
have been firing at Russian soldiers as they guard
checkpoints in federally held territory. The Chechen
Internet website says fighters killed several Russian
soldiers in overnight raids, but Russian officials did
not admit any federal casualties.
Russia's military says federal troops have staged
several successful ambushes against Chechen fighters,
staging surprise attacks on several small guerilla
groups in southeastern Chechnya. Russian reports of
rebel casualties were impossible to confirm.
Poor weather in recent days has grounded Russian
warplanes, but Russian artillery continues to shell
rebel positions in the mountains near Chechnya's
border with Georgia. (Signed)
NEB/EC/JWH/KL
04-May-2000 10:58 AM EDT (04-May-2000 1458 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
