28.01.2003 14:50
RUSSIA READY TO COOPERATE WITH OSCE IN CHECHNYA
Russia is ready to consider other forms of cooperation with the OSCE after
the recent shutdown of the organization's mission in Chechnya, Russian
Foreign Minster Igor Ivanov said in a letter to OSCE Chairman-in-Office,
Acting Dutch Foreign Minister Jakob de Hoop Scheffer.
The shutdown of the OSCE Assistance Group in Chechnya "does not mean we
automatically stop cooperating with the OSCE on Chechnya," the Russian
chief diplomat said. Russia is ready to consider other forms of cooperation
with the organization, first of all through its specialized structures,
namely, the Bureau on Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Ivanov stressed.
He also expressed hope that the Bureau "would be able to provide expert
support in monitoring" the Chechen Constitution referendum and parliamentary
elections scheduled to take place on March 23 in that Russian republic.
According to the minister, previous experience shows that such activities
are impossible without constant field presence of the OSCE.