| An Appeal for
International Support for Peace Washington, DC: May 13, 2005 5:00 p.m. EDT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael J. Bradow, Tel. 202.364.2466 In the aftermath of the May 9th Victory Day celebrations in Russia and the May 10th Russia-EU summit, the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya (ACPC) calls upon the leadership of the separatist Chechen government to take steps toward peace, even in the absence of a reciprocal effort by the Russian Federation, and reaffirm its commitment to a political solution. The March 8th killing of former Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov confirmed that the Russian side is unwilling to change the status quo in Chechnya, but rather unequivocally committed to forestalling a peace process, particularly that initiated by the Russian Soldiers’ Mothers Committee earlier this year. ACPC Co-Chairman Zbigniew Brzezinski commented, “In the wake of the death of Aslan Maskhadov, President Sadulaev has been offered the opportunity to continue his predecessor’s work of constructively seeking a negotiated settlement to the war. Despite Russia’s rejection of Maskhadov’s overtures, it is important for the new leadership to explicitly and demonstratively follow in his footsteps in the hope that the international community will intensify its efforts to mediate an end to this ongoing tragedy.” Despite the Kremlin’s efforts to cast a smokescreen around the conflict in Chechnya, the consequences of Russian policy continue to be felt within the Chechen population. A recent Memorial Human Rights Center report claimed that 3,000-5,000 civilians have disappeared over the past five years, most of whom have been found dead. Nearly 900 are still missing. Furthermore, fighting has resumed and spread beyond Chechnya to other neighboring republics in the North Caucasus. ACPC Executive Director Glen Howard noted, “By installing its own cadre of corrupt politicians and brutal commanders, the Kremlin continues to destroy the prospects for peace in Chechnya, while compromising the security of its own people from Makhachkala to Moscow.” In light of the above, the ACPC encourages other Western leaders and organizations, including the Council of Europe, to express their commitment to support of a lasting peace in Chechnya. In February 2005, the Chechen leadership under Aslan Maskhadov declared a three week ceasefire that was observed by all elements of the separatist movement including Shamil Basaev. The ACPC stresses that such an offer of peace, as well as those initiated by President Sadulaev’s emissaries abroad, warrant the full attention and support of Western leaders engaged in building peace, security, and the rule of law along Russia’s southern border. Founded in 1999, the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya (ACPC) is a bipartisan coalition of distinguished Americans dedicated to promoting a peaceful end to the war in Chechnya. www.peaceinchechnya.org Statement by the President of the ChRI Chechenpress, Department of Official Information, 15.05.05 Statement by the President of the ChRI, Abdul-Halim Sadulayev, in connection with the call from the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya and the new aggravation of the military-political situation in the Caucasus. In the name of Allah the Gracious and Merciful! Dear friends! As you know, the President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Aslan Maskhadov was one of the most peace-loving politicians on earth, who did his utmost in order to stop the bloody Russian-Chechen war. This was testified by the unprecedented action taken by the Chechen side on his order, the unilateral stop of all active fighting in the month of February of this year. Maskhadov even went to the lowland part of the Chechen state in order to activate the initiative for a peace process, although this was deadly dangerous for him. And the whole world saw with their own eyes on 8 March how Europe and Russia responded to his peace efforts: the Old World by total silence and Moscow by mean murder. Yes, we, the Chechens, want a reliable and long-lasting peace on our long-suffering soil! But we do not see on the threshold to the sixth year of the second stage of the Russian-Chechen war that the world community wants to help the Chechens in this terrible, genocidal war in any way. We do not feel that it desires as much as to contribute to a stop of this bloody slaughter, which has already taken several hundred thousand human lives. As long as Europe does not take a serious position toward the proposals of the Chechen side for a peaceful settlement of the military-political conflict between the RF and the ChRI, already made by Aslan Maskhadov, our strategic purpose will remain the coercion of the Kremlin to peace. The militaristic regime in Moscow will not be stopped by such "weak" reasons as suffering, blood, death of its own and foreign peoples - this is our solid persuasion. The Kremlin rulers have neither the political nor the moral will to peace in Ichkeria, they do not want good neighbourly relations with the Chechens. Therefore our immediate target is the "Achilles heel" of the Kremlin inhabitants and their accomplices, who are deliberately destroying the Chechen nation. But on no account will our attacks on Russia be aimed at the peaceful citizens of that country, although its leadership will do all it can in order to once again expose its own people. I authoritatively declare that the leadership of the Chechen Resistance is always open to a real political dialogue with Russia, on the principles proposed by Aslan Maskhadov. Nevertheless, we will never again ask the Kremlin for peace. Further, I want to direct the attention of the world community to the terrorist activity of the Kremlin regime against the adjacent state of Georgia. The acts of aggression by Russia in this sovereign country could have the most unpredictable consequences, not only for upholding safety in the Caucasian region, but they could also have a negative influence on the stability of the whole world. The Chechen nation declares its complete support to the fraternal Georgian nation in the fight against Russia's terrorist activity and imperial ambitions. Ichkeria is ready in the prevailing situation to help Georgia in any form it might wish from its respectable neighbours and brothers in the Caucasian spirit. May the Supreme Lord help us in our justified fight for freedom and independence! With sincere respect for all people of good will, Abdul-Halim Sadulayev, President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the ChRI. [Tr. by N.S.] |