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TITLE: Chechen Community in Moscow Calls for Immediate Peace Talks |
AUTHOR: |
PUB: Radio Free Europe |
DATE: March 13, 2001 |
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Participants at a conference of Chechen political organizations held in Moscow on 10 March called on the Russian government to start a dialogue, without preconditions, between the Putin and Maskhadov administrations on a "civilized political settlement" of the Chechen conflict, Interfax reported. They also called for a referendum among citizens of the Chechen Republic on the region's future status, and for the UN and OSCE to act as guarantors of a future peace agreement. But a further resolution calling for the deployment in Chechnya of armed peacekeeping forces from neutral countries passed by only four votes. Participants also disagreed on whether Aslan Maskhadov remains Chechen president: he was elected in January 1997, apparently for a four-year term. Shamil Beno, the Moscow representative of pro-Moscow administration head Ahmed Kadyrov, said at the conference that representatives of that administration must be allowed to attend any talks between Maskhadov and the Russian leadership. As Displaced Persons Discuss Nominating Ingush President For Nobel Peace Prize A congress of Chechen displaced persons held in Ingushetia on 4 March set up an initiative group to support nominating Ingushetian President Ruslan Aushev for the Nobel Peace Prize, Interfax reported on 11 March. Aushev has incurred Moscow's displeasure for his expressions of support for Maskhadov and his alleged tolerance of Chechen armed groups on Ingush territory. There are currently some 147,000 displaced persons from Chechnya in temporary camps in Ingushetia. END |