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RBC, 12 September
2003 18:00
UN official visits Chechen refugees
The situation with the provision of security in Chechnya has improved
considerably, although some tension has remained, UN Secretary General
special representative for internally displaced persons Francis M. Deng
declared at a new conference in Moscow today commenting on his visit
to the North Caucasus. According to him, one of the key issues that
have been discussed during his visit to Russia has been the problem
of the return of Chechen refugees from Ingushetia to Chechnya.
Deng noted that residents of refugee camps raised concerns about possible
violence to be used to make them return to Chechnya. Deng remarked that
state authorities assured him that nobody would be forced to return,
everything would be on a voluntary basis.
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REspublica Ingushetia
web site 12 September 2003 16:32
Ingush leader, UN official discuss problems of Chechen refugees
11 September: Ingush President Zyazikov received Dr Francis Deng, representative
of the UN Secretary-General for displaced persons, in Magas yesterday
[10 September]. They discussed problems of displaced persons from Chechnya
and North Ossetia.
The republic's leader informed the guest in detail about the plight
of displaced persons in Ingushetia and noted that international humanitarian
organizations had left Ingush refugees from North Ossetia without attention.
The president reiterated that Chechen refugees were returning home of
their own volition and thanked Deng for the UN's assistance. In turn,
the UN representative thanked the Ingush president for his detailed
information about the plight of displaced persons living in Ingushetia.
He highly valued the role of the Ingush people and president in accommodating
migrants. Mr Deng said he believed that Chechen refugees were returning
to Chechnya only of their own volition. Deng said that the UN was intending
to continue its humanitarian mission in the North Caucasus.
On behalf of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Deng congratulated Zyazikov
on his birthday and presented him with a gift.
[Signed] The presidential press service.
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