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RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 4, No. 204, Part I, 20 October 2000

CHECHNYA CONSTITUTES ONE BARRIER TO MILITARY REFORM, IISS
CONCLUDES. In "The Military Balance 2000-2001," the
International Institute for Security Studies concludes that
although military reform under President Putin is likely to
be more "coordinated, strategically focused and economically
viable" than under his predecessor, the regime's ability to
tackle costly military reforms is challenged by the
continuing war in Chechnya, which "is draining economic and
military reforms and losing public support." According to the
report, military reform continues to "lack not only economic
resources but also the human talent capable of implementing a
radical modernization" of the armed forces. The report notes
that the Russian military's performance during the second
Chechen campaign has been better than in 1994-1996, but the
Russian forces continue to suffer from a shortage of well-
trained ground troops as well as from out-dated weapons.
Another feature of the Chechen conflict has been that the
"heavy and often indiscriminate use of artillery and air-
strikes" has caused unnecessary casualties, the report said.
JAC

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