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Russia Warns United States Against Contacts With Chechen Rebels
Russia Wednesday criticized the US administration's plan to make diplomatic contacts with the "government" of Chechen rebels, warning that such moves will produce great negative impact on Russian-US ties.
Marc Grossman, director general of the US Foreign Service and a nominee as assistant secretary of state for political affairs, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday that US diplomats were ready to establish contacts with Chechen separatist representatives.
He disclosed that the "foreign minister" in the Chechen rebels' government, Ilyas Akhmadov, will visit Washington this week.
"Grossman's statement creates at least confusion. Chechen terrorists may see contacts with the US as encouragement of their activity, which is not acceptable for Russia," Russian Presidential Aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky, head of the newly formed Kremlin Information Department, said in an interview with the Itar-Tass news agency.
"Moscow's reaction to such a development of events will be adequate," he declared.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Kremlin said on the same day that if reports that the US administration would contact the Chechen rebels are confirmed, "Moscow's reaction will be harsh."
He also urged Washington to refrain from official contacts with Chechen representatives.
Dmitri Rogozin, head of the Russian Duma international affairs committee, said if Washington receives the so-called Chechen foreign minister, Russia will consider the United States as one of those countries officially backing terrorism.
Akhmadov visited the United States in June 2000 and demanded a meeting with the then secretary of state, Madeleine Albright. But he was only offered a meeting with rank-and-file experts from the Department of State, outside its walls.
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