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U.S. Condemns Terrorist Bombing in Chechnya

(Stephan Minikes statement to OSCE Permanent Council) (350)
The United States has condemned the December 27 terrorist bombing of a
government building in Grozny, Russian Federation, and called on
Chechen leaders to "firmly and unequivocally renounce terrorist acts,
in word and deed, and cut their ties to terrorist groups and with
those Chechens affiliated with terrorist groups."
Following is a statement by U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe Stephan M. Minikes to a special
meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna December 30:
(begin transcript)
United States Mission to the OSCE
Vienna
December 30, 2002
STATEMENT ON CHECHNYA
Delivered by Ambassador Stephan M. Minikes to the Special Meeting of
the Permanent Council
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, the United States strongly condemns the apparent act of
terrorism that took place in Grozny, the Russian Federation, on
December 27, and we extend our profound condolences to the families of
the victims.
This attack only underscores the fact that there can be no military
solution to the conflict in Chechnya. A political solution is critical
to efforts to bring a lasting peace to the region.
We call on Chechen leaders to firmly and unequivocally renounce
terrorist acts, in word and deed, and cut their ties to terrorist
groups and with those Chechens affiliated with terrorist groups.
Mr. Chairman, as you know, there are intensive efforts still underway
to achieve a new mandate for the Assistance Group in Chechnya. We
strongly hope that this will be possible within a short period of
time, and also that the current mandate will be extended for one month
to allow completion of negotiations on a new mandate.
We are committed to working closely with our Russian and other
colleagues towards that end, in a spirit of cooperation and full
engagement by all parties.
Finally, we trust that the new mandate will enable the Assistance
Group to continue the important and very valuable work it has done to
date, and which it is continuing to do as we speak today.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)