OSCE return to Chechnya senseless – State Council head

11.07.2004, 20.12


GROZNY, July 11 (Itar-Tass) -- The Chechen administration thinks that return of an OSCE mission,
which has left the republic on security reasons, is senseless.

The statement by Chairman of the Chechen State Council Taus Dzhabrailov is made in the first issue
of the Nasha Gazeta information and analytical weekly released in Grozny. The edition will be
released under the aegis of the Public Council for Control of Social and Economic Reconstructions
formed on July 1.

Dzhabrailov responded the appeal of Amnesty International human rights organization, which had
called for resuming OSCE activities in Chechnya. Only rebels will benefit from the return,
Dzhabrailov said. "Every time OSCE representatives come to Chechnya they start calling for
negotiations with the illegal armed units. Rebels start regarding themselves as a political force
and trying to make demands via the OSCE mission," Dzhabrailov said. "That exacerbates the
situation and damages stability," he added.

However, international organizations can help to solve humanitarian and economic problems in
Chechnya, Dzhabrailov said. "They could also urge national governments to assist termination of
external financing of the illegal armed units in Chechnya," he noted.

The Chechen authorities "will not hold any negotiations with the illegal armed units or various
sorts of bandits. Our position is firm. Those who blast stadiums and apartment houses understand
nothing but the language of force," Dzhabrailov said.