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Chechenpress
"Road to Peace in Chechnya"
(London memorandum)
From our colleague in London Chechenpress has received the complete
text of the memorandum which was accepted by the trilateral meeting of
representatives of the ChRI, the Union of Committees of Soldiers'
Mothers, and official structures of the European Union. Below is the
full text.
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The present memorandum was signed by representatives of the Government
of the Chechen Republic and the Union of Committees of Soldiers' Mothers
of Russia (UCSM) (henceforth "the sides"), as a result of talks which
took place on 25 February, 2005, in the representation of the European
Parliament in London. The meeting took place on the initiative of the
USCM, which act within the framework of a peacemaking mission that has
wide public support in Russia. The sides are grateful to the European
parliamentarians who organized and contributed to the meeting, as well
as to the members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe, who were observers during the talks.
The sides agreed that:
- the armed conflict in Chechnya has brought countless calamities to the
peoples of Chechnya and Russia. Hundreds of billions of rubles spent on
the war have turned into hundreds of thousands of victims of the war in
Russia and Chechnya. Tens of thousands of dwellings and the economic
infrastructure have been destroyed. More than one generation of young
people from both sides has grown up in an atmosphere of violence and
hatred. Grave war crimes, massive violations of human rights and
horrible acts of terror have been committed in the course of the Chechen
conflict;
- the Chechen conflict doesn't have a military solution. The
continuation of military actions will not be able to lead to the victory
of one of the sides. Peace is a real, general victory;
- the violations of human rights and the terror in connection with the
Chechen conflict cannot have any justification and deserve unconditional
condemnation. A peace process is necessary in order to put the soonest
end to these horrors;
- the origin and the development of terrorism in Chechnya and the North
Caucasus is a consequence of the short-sighted and criminal policy of
the Russian government, which untied the war in 1994. For a stop of the
terror and the stabilization of the situation it is necessary to combine
the efforts of all sides participating in the conflict and of the public
forces which speak against the war in Chechnya and for a peaceful
settlement of the conflict;
- in order to resolve the existing conflict and not to allow a further
expansion of the conflict, the European Community (the Council of
Europe, the European Union and the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe) are called to lend strong support to the peace
process.
The sides regard the meeting in London as successful and consider it
necessary to continue the discussion of all touched problems in the
future. The sides will acquaint themselves with the special proposals
made by each side. The sides count on active support from the European
structures to the cause of a peaceful settlement of the conflict which
is equally disastrous for the Chechen Republic and for Russia.
Proposals of the Chechen side
Two principles are the basis of the proposals for a peaceful settlement:
1) Termination of the war and demilitarization with the participation of
peacemaking forces, formed according to an agreement by the sides;
2) A political settlement between the RF and the ChRI on the basis of
the "Agreement on Peace and the Principles of Interrelations between the
RF and the ChRI" of 12 May, 1997, concluded in accordance with the
constitutions of the RF and the ChRI.
The combination of these principles makes it possible to leave the
military blind alley with appropriate security assurances and the
observance of the legitimate political interests of both opposing sides.
Step 1. Ceasefire and fight against terror.
The opposing sides, via special representations, create a mechanism for
an immediate ceasefire without preconditions. The Chechen side is ready
to co-operate in combating terrorism, both within the framework of
bilateral relations and as a part of the international coalition to
fight terrorism.
Step 2. Demilitarization
After an armistice is reached, the removal of Russian troops from the
Chechen Republic and the disarmament of the national militia take place
simultaneously. The functions of providing safety are transferred to a
temporary peacemaking contingent in connection with this.
Step 3. Transition period.
During the period between the ceasefire and elections, the state
functions are assumed by a temporary coalition government, created under
international control. In questions of providing safety the provisional
government relies on the peacemaking contingent.
The legal basis for the creation and working of the temporary coalition
government of the ChRI is the agreement of 12 May, 1997.
Step 4. Elections.
Based on the agreement of 12 May, 1997, the provisional government
prepares and organizes direct democratic elections with participation of
all political forces of the Chechen Republic under the observation of
international institutions.
Step 5. Economic reconstruction
The European Union is called to grant large-scale, direct economic aid
for the reconstruction of Chechnya.
Participants of the meeting:
From The Union of Committees of the Soldiers' Mothers:
Valentina Melnikova,
Ida Kuklina,
Natalya Zhukova,
Marya Fedulova.
From The Chechen Republic:
Special Envoy of the President of
the ChRI on the Peaceful Settlement
of the Russian-Chechen Conflict
A. Zakayev,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the CHRI
A. Sayeva,
Deputy Minister of Culture,
Information and the Press
Y. Abdullayev.
From The European Parliament:
Baroness Sarah Ludford,
Vitautas Landsbergis,
Bart Staes.
From The Council of Europe:
Lord Judd
Andreas Gross
London, 25 February, 2005.
Chechenpress, Department of Official Information, 26.02.05
http://chechenpress.co.uk/news/2005/02/26/13.shtml