Putin Urges Efforts for Permanent Settlement in ChechnyaRussian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called on Russia's political forces to make more efforts to achieve a permanent political settlement of the Chechen issue."Having accomplished its main tasks, the Russian army is withdrawing from Chechnya. It is a serious result, but we paid a high price for achieving it," Putin said in his annual state of the nation address to parliament. He said it would be important to strengthen the administration in the Chechen Republic so as to fight against acts of terror and overcome the consequences of the crimes. He also promised that Russia would engage in protection of the civil rights and solve the serious socio-economic issues in Chechnya with persistence and courage. |
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