Chechen Leader Calls for International Peace Commission

WASHINGTON (PROTEXT) - The following was released today byJohn Adams Associates: A Chechen leader wounded in the first Russian attack on Groznyin 1995, who later served as first deputy prime minister in theChechen Government, today called for establishment of aninternational commission to bring peace to Chechnya. In a statement issued from Baku in neighboring Azerbaijan,Khozh-Ahmed Noukhaev said Russia will never gain its objectivesby military means -- however heavy the bombing -- because theChechen people's will for self-determination is such thatguerilla warfare will continue for years. This continuing warfare will prevent Russia from exercisingthe control it seeks over the region -- including the Caspianoilfields. Peace negotiations are the only way out for Russia, he said,and Chechens are looking to the Russian Parliament for support --specifically the new parliamentary majority following theupcoming elections. Noukhaev said peace talks could be based on the followingthree principles: -- Accepting the already existing Russian-Chechen agreementsas a legal basis. -- Ratification of the existing agreements by the new RussianParliament. -- Disbanding the illegal armed groups in Chechnya by theaccepted leaders of the Chechen clans. Noukhaev said the first step in the peace process should beestablishment of an International Commission headed by suchrespected world figures as former President Jimmy Carter orformer UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to oversee thefreeing of illegally detained persons on both sides. The creation of such a commission would establish thenecessary favorable climate for subsequent peace negotiations, hesaid. ots Original Text Service: John Adams Associates Internet:http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: John Adams of John AdamsAssociates, 202-737-8400; or Mansour, +994-50-212-9853, for JohnAdams Associates

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