| U.S. says
Chechnya elections flawed Monday, August 30th, 2004 WASHINGTON (AP) - The State Department said Monday the presidential election in Chechnya was seriously flawed and did not meet international standards. Spokesman Richard Boucher said that the disqualification of a leading candidate on a "mere technicality" particularly concerned the United States. He said Alu Alkhanov, the declared winner in the balloting, faces the difficult task of broadening support among the Chechen people for a more open political process and finding ways to achieve a comprehensive settlement. "We will call on him and others to address themselves to the fundamental tasks which remain unresolved by this election," Boucher said. He also appealed for an end to human rights abuses in Chechnya by all parties and urged that those who committed such abuses be held accountable. Daily Press Briefing Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC August 30, 2004 -------------------------------- QUESTION: Elections in Chechnya, do you have any comment on the election, and in particular, on allegations by one of the opponents that there were widespread violations and faked ballots? MR. BOUCHER: Let me make clear from the beginning that we continue to support a political settlement of the tragic conflict in Chechnya, that recognizes Chechnya as a part of the Russian Federation, that creates conditions for a more normal life based on democratic principles, that eliminates terrorism and protects human rights throughout Chechnya. We know that there were serious flaws in the electoral process there, especially this earlier disqualification of a leading candidate on a mere technicality. It's, therefore, not possible to say that -- well, it is possible to say that yesterday's presidential vote did not meet international standards for a democratic election. Mr. Alkanov now faces the difficult task of broadening support among the people of Chechnya, of bringing pluralism into the political process, and finding ways to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the conflict and we will call on him and others to address themselves to those fundamental tasks which remain unresolved by this election. We also call for an end to human rights abuses in Chechnya by all parties and urge that those who committed such abuses be held accountable. QUESTION: Let's be clear on one thing. The abuses that you believe took place are by no means restricted to the earlier disqualification; they include things that happened yesterday on the Election Day, itself? MR. BOUCHER: They include a lot of different things, including things that happened yesterday, yeah. QUESTION: And you had people there? MR. BOUCHER: I think -- I don't know if we had people there, frankly. I think we've seen enough -- QUESTION: So this information comes from? MR. BOUCHER: What we consider reliable press reporting. QUESTION: So what would you recommend is a remedy? I mean, I don't think they are going to have a Venezuelan-like -- MR. BOUCHER: No, it doesn't look like they're going to. What we would recommend is what we've been recommending all along, that everybody in Chechnya focus their attentions on bringing real pluralism to the political process and finding ways to achieve a political settlement. QUESTION: Are you talking to the Russian Government at all about any role they may have had in not assuring a fair vote? MR. BOUCHER: It's certainly been a -- those points have been consistently discussed with the Russian Government and continue to be. QUESTION: But not since -- not since yesterday, obviously? MR. BOUCHER: I don't know what discussions we've had since the vote. QUESTION: But you would expect it will be taken up specifically? MR. BOUCHER: We will continue to take up these issues along the lines of what I said. Aug 31 2004 6:03PM Moscow surprised by Washington's view on Chechen election MOSCOW. Aug 31 (Interfax) - Moscow is surprised by U.S. Department of State spokesman Richard Boucher's statement in which he said the Sunday presidential elections in Chechnya did not meet international democratic standards, the Russian Foreign Ministry's information and press department said in a commentary. "This statement at the very least causes surprise and does not correspond with the opinions of international observers who were present at the elections," it said. Aug 30 2004 8:00PM Chechen issue should be resolved without damaging Russia's integrity - Turkish PM ANKARA. Aug 30 (Interfax) - Turkey favors a settlement in Chechnya in the framework of Russia's territorial integrity, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan said in an exclusive interview with Interfax on Monday ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit to Turkey. "We want a fundamental solution of the Chechen question in the framework of Russia's territorial integrity and constitutional system, by peaceful means and with due consideration for human rights," he said. "Turkey believes that there should be no place for terrorism under any circumstances and criticizes the phenomenon at the highest level," Erdogan said. He reaffirmed that his country continues to favor "the establishment of a sincere dialogue between our countries in the sphere of resisting terrorism." Chirac Approves Chechnya Elections at Summit With Putin Created: 31.08.2004 16:31 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 17:05 MSK, MosNews French president Jacques Chirac has expressed confidence that presidential elections in Chechnya will contribute to the further development of the republic. Speaking at a press conference with Russian president Vladimir Putin and German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Tuesday, he said that "no one can contest Russia's territorial integrity." He added that the elections had taken place "in conditions that we cannot contest," Interfax news agency reported. The three heads of state met at Putin's residence in the North Caucasus resort of Sochi. Putin was quoted by the agency as stressing that an international terrorist organization connected to Al Qaida had taken responsibility for the plane crash on August 24. This fact, Putin said, "confirms the connections between destructive elements on Chechen territory and international terrorism." He added that the involvement of international terrorism in the crash is to be proven but he noted that "the fact is that there were explosions on board the planes." |