No Chechen Issue beyond Negotiation

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 26, 2001

No Chechen Issue beyond Negotiation - Rebel Envoy

An envoy for separatist Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov said on Sunday that there was no issue concerning the breakaway Russian republic which could not be solved through negotiations with Moscow.

An envoy for separatist Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov said on Sunday that there was no issue concerning the breakaway Russian republic which could not be solved through negotiations with Moscow.

"I am sure there is no problem which cannot be solved over the negotiating table", Akhmed Zakayev told an interview with Russian television channel NTV.

His comments come after talks last weekend at Moscow's international airport with the Kremlin's Viktor Kazantsev, the first such meeting since Moscow launched its "anti-terrorist" operation in Chechnya in October 1999.

Zakayev described the meeting as "very constructive", and said the talks "marked the opening of a new chapter to stop the bloodshed in Chechnya."

"We were listened to and we exchanged ideas not only on the current situation but also on how to bring the crisis to an end".

Zakayev added that he did not believe the talks were merely for propaganda purposes for a foreign audience, but were rooted in a "real desire" to see the conflict end.

Moscow, however, has played down the significance of the meeting, saying that the political structure of Chechnya is not up for negotiation and that the talks had focused purely on demanding the rebels lay down their arms.

Kremlin Pledges More Talks After First Meeting With Chechen Envoy