Contacts continue between Kazantsev and Zakayev on termination of Russian-Chechen warRuslan Isayev, North Caucasus - Another phone call was made today between Viktor Kazantsev, Russian President’s plenipotentiary in the South Federal Region, and President of Ichkeria Aslan Maskhadov’s representative Akhmed Zakayev.
Viktor Kazantsev and Akhmed Zakayev discussed only technical details concerning their forthcoming meeting, in particular the place where the first official dialogue between federal authorities and fighting Chechens since the outbreak of the second war should take place. Akhmed Zakayev suggested holding the meeting in Nazran, Ingushetia, or Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, but the ultimate decision is yet to be made.
Zakayev said that during the phone call the two sides “reached agreement on keeping the dialogue in order to hold the talks as soon as possible to end the Russian-Chechen war.”
It is significant that the Chechen side stresses the term "peace talks", whereas the Russian side keeps claiming the deal to be made may concern only the disarmament of Chechen armed groupings and their integration into a peaceful life.
Besides, Kazantsev is via various members of the Ichkerian government trying to find direct contacts with Aslan Maskhadov. Thus the peace talks may be joined by members of Maskhadov’s government, namely Chozh-Akhmed Yirikhanov and Kazbek Machashev, who are considered by the Kremlin as entirely acceptable partners to hold negotiations with. |
