Putin Promises Normal, Civilized Life to Chechen People

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, May 17, 2003

Putin Promises Normal, Civilized Life to Chechen People

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Friday that Chechen people will lead a "normal, civilizedlife."

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Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Friday that Chechen people will lead a "normal, civilized life."

The March referendum held in Chechnya has demonstrated that "Chechens have the right to regard themselves as an inalienable part of one united multinational population," Putin told the parliament in his annual State of Nation Address.

He thanked the Chechen voters for approving the constitutional referendum that cemented Chechnya's status as part of the Russian Federation.

"Today, I am expressing particular gratitude to the Chechen people for their courage and refusal to be intimidated in the past and at present, for the wisdom of ordinary people sensitive to the truth," Putin said.

On Thursday, Putin submitted to the State Duma, or lower house of parliament, a draft resolution offering amnesty in Chechnya.

The upcoming amnesty offers an opportunity to resume a peaceful life to "those who failed to do so earlier for various reasons but who are ready to do so now," Putin said.

His speech came after at least 75 people were killed in two suicide bombings in Chechnya this week.

The president acknowledged that Russia has to pay a high price for the restoration of the country's territorial unity.

Chechnya won de facto independent status in 1996 after Russia pulled out troops from it. Russian troops re-entered the lawless region in September 1999 following attacks by Chechnya-based fighters in a neighboring region and a series of deadly bombings blamed on the rebels.

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