ACPC Welcomes Bush's Renewed Focus on ChechnyaNovember 18, 2002, 5:45 p.m. EDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Chris Swift, (202) 296-5101 x134
The American Committee for Peace in Chechnya today welcomed statements by
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice indicating that the war in
Chechnya will be an important part of President Bush's discussions with
Russian President Vladimir Putin at the November 22 U.S.-Russia summit in
St. Petersburg.
"Dr. Rice's statements represent a positive step forward," said Executive
Director Glen E. Howard. "We hope President Bush will press Putin on the
importance of reaching a negotiated settlement on ending the war, which is
now in its fourth year and shows no sign of ending."
Rice outlined the Bush administration's policy toward Chechnya in a White
House News conference Friday.
"We still believe that the best way to resolve this situation is through a
political solution that can take care of the legitimate aspirations of the
Chechen people," said Rice. "Recognizing that Chechnya is a part of Russia,
but recognizing that this is a part of Russia in which there are ethnic
groups that have particular aspirations and cultural ties."
The Bush administration has reportedly considered a framework for
Chechen-Russian negotiations modeled on successful settlement talks in
Northern Ireland. According to The Washington Post, at least one official
has proposed "a Chechen round table, including a representative of the
people with guns-a Chechen Gerry Adams."
The White House's renewed focus on Chechnya follows the October 30 detention
of prominent Chechen negotiator Akhmed Zakayev in Denmark. Zakayev-the
envoy of democratically elected Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov-met this
August with former Russian national security adviser Ivan Rybkin, Russian
Duma Member Aslambek Aslakhanov and former Russian Duma Speaker Ruslan
Khasbulatov in Liechtenstein to discuss the framework for a negotiated
settlement on ending the war.
"Akhmed Zakayev has been and continues to be a crucial interlocutor in
efforts to find a negotiated settlement," noted Howard. "If there is to be
peace in Chechnya, President Putin must avoid painting moderates of his ilk
with the broad brush of international terrorism."
"This week's U.S.-Russia summit is an opportunity for the United States to
send that message," Howard continued. "Its time for Russians and Chechens to
resume the peace process that began in November 2001 when Zakayev met with
Putin's special envoy Viktor Kazantsev in Moscow."
Founded in 1999, the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya (ACPC) is a
bipartisan coalition of distinguished Americans dedicated to promoting a
peaceful end to the war in Chechnya. (T) |
