| Belgium vows to return wanted Chechen to UK Sat 20 November, 2004 BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Chechen rebel spokesman Akhmed Zakayev will be detained and sent back to Britain if he accepts an invitation to come to Belgium to discuss the human rights situation in Russia, a Belgian newspaper has said. De Standaard daily said on Saturday however that the Belgian Interior Ministry had decided Zakayev --living in exile in London -- would not be extradited to Russia. The government has rejected Russian requests for the extradition of Zakayev, who Moscow describes as a terrorist and accuses of murder and kidnapping. A Belgian member of European Parliament has invited Zakayev to meet the Russian Committee of Soldiers' Mothers, a human rights group, in Brussels next week to help find a compromise on the conflict in Chechnya, where separatists have been fighting Russian rule for 10 years. Zakayev is a spokesman of Chechen leader Aslan Maskhadov, who has been on the run since being ousted as Chechen president by Russian forces in 1999. Chechenpress Statement by Ahmed Zakayev I am surprised about media reports that the Belgian authorities are intended to prevent my arrival to Brussels for talks about peace. I was in Belgium quite recently, in March, and participated in a conference on Chechnya. At that time the visit took place quietly and the attitude of the authorities was friendly. Now, because of the initiative of the Soldiers' Mothers, a unique possibility arose to make a real step toward peace. This initiative comes from deep within the Russian society; it is supported by a majority of Russians and Chechens. Moscow's dissatisfaction only emphasizes the importance and seriousness of this initiative. I assume that peace-making is in the interest of Belgium as well, as it has repeatedly declared at many European fora. Chechens are dying every day for the freedom of their country, and I can't believe that the Belgians value their freedom so low that they will yield to Russian pressure. Therefore I still hope that when the official position of Belgium becomes clear on Monday, the principal approach will take superiority over the day-to-day approach. So far the invitation from the European Parliament remains valid, and I am planning to go to Brussels on Tuesday for the meeting with the Soldiers' Mothers. Ahmed Zakayev, London, 20 November. Chechenpress, Department of Government Information, 20.11.04 http://chechenpress.com/news/2004/11/20/12.shtml [Unauthorized translation by N.S.] |