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Daily Report Central Eurasia FBIS-SOV-94-243 CONTENTS 19 December 1994 INTERREGIONAL AFFAIRS CIS Summit ‘Likely’ To Be Postponed Until Feb 1995 /ITAR-TASS] ........:ccssccssssssssssscesssesscessscescesssceseeees 1 Railroad Chiefs Agree To Resume Cooperation /ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI 16 Dec] ........:ccccscsssssssssseeseeeees 1 FE Ie ee UN UR TEE TT TUE ccnceksscscinsescccsvecsnincsdinntnssaninssnetasassenitiaaatanininstatisinnnaesienaiasiiasaaneen | RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Gore Performing ‘Diplomatic Tightrope-Walk’ /IZVESTIYVA 17 Dec] ......c..cccssssssssssscssscessceeseessecesccensceees 3 No Progress in Nuclear Sphere Reported at U.S.-Russia Talks /[SEGODNYA 17 Dec] .0....sc..scccsscssssesseeees 4 Gore Urges Chernomyrdin To Heed Chevron’s Interests /SEGODNYA 16 wid spndjaddanbaeanisncentiaibiasesaneasis 4 Gore, Chernomyrdin Sign Agreements on — Conversion [IZVESTIYA 17 Dec] ....cscscccssssssssssesseessees 4 COIR TUIIGD SIN. TPM ANTEE | ciseercsnsssicanscoresiccasserinenenasuntaninnssnciboedssenbranetabeansesenbartabinannssannons 5 Chernomyrdin Stresses Respect, Responsibility in U.S. Ties /ITAR-TASS] ........:cccssssssssssseescesscsssessessessees 5 Says Gore Visit ‘Very Important? /ROSSiYSKAYA GAZETA 17 DC] .........cccccccesccesesssseceesseseeeecesees . 6 7 7 8 9 9 9 10 10 f Defense Official on Kurils, Ties With Japanese Military Fidel fey ciel dcliginsiannathaghiniaenagtiennsinipeatadun 12 Moscow Confirms Nuclear Power Deal With Czech Republic //TAR-TASS] i ERBD Grants Credit Line for Export, Import Trade /ITAR-TASS] ..........ssssscssssssssssssscscessscssessescsseseeeeeses 13 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS Political Issues Yeltsin Sets up Chechnya Plenipotentiary ay Jatiainbibansencasaheigsbeuiashadennaabeanihotiantianiniantinataes 14 Russian Democracy Undergoes ‘Test’ in yor Ey a TOUTE FOU ccssnscssctsrrrnttntaniaremmnnnns 14 Chernomyrdin Leads Kremlin Meeting /[TAR-TASS] ......:..:ccssscsssssssssssssesssssssssesssssssesssecsssssssesseceseess 15 Filatov Secs Possibility for Tals fINTERPAR] .scccsscsoscsssscosscecssscssccsssssescsssossscssosssesssecssesossscssonssesosse 16 Poll Shows Majority Opposes Use of Force [Moscow Radio] ......:.sccssssssssssssssssssssscessssesssecesessseesnases 17 Cossacks Call For Force, Offer Help /ITAR-TASS] _ .....:..scscsccssssssssscssccssscsssescscessscsssoossocssoesssons 17 Trade Unions on ‘Enforced’ Order /SEGODNYA 17 Dec] ...cccssccssscsssssessssessessssesssssssecssecsssseees 17 Dudayev Seen ‘Likely’ To Agree to Talks /ITAR-TASS] ........sccssssssssssssessssssssscssssssscssesssseesssssseeseseses 17 Duma Proposes New Peace Plan [Moscow Radio] .........s.scccccssscssossssssssscsssescssscscsscssescscssesescsscssecsees 17 Official Denies Bombing Reports /Moscow ert sdsinshbeshonssakaneagnandhesdinnieheenibaasdaneestinssaeonvesomianesbbeds 18 Yeltsin Sends Telegram to Dudayev [ITAR-TASS] oscceccecsoscccsssescocscsssescsssesccesescoscossceseossssccossosceceesse 18 Deputies Protest Killing of Ingush Civilians [Moscow RadiO] .......s.sccscssssssssssssssssssescsssenseesesseesessenes 18 Yeltsin, Security Council on 1? Dec Deadline ae chbnssbennnheanltinicssienerddinbananetenstaananenaenieits 18 Zhirinovskiy Sees Events as U.S. ‘Plan’ /INTERFAX] .......... 18 Government Promises ‘Humane’ Use of Force /ITA roe > ip encbinadenenuneneneadibatacensnnosiinaiiainennvidiatn 19 Federation Council Adopts Chechnya Resolution /ITAR-TASS] .......s.sssssssssssssssssecssesssssecssessessensenes 19 Foreign Ministry Issues Statement on Events /I1TAR-TASS] .......:.sscssssssssssssssesssssssesersssssesssensnsseneens 20 Government on ‘Keeping Tabs’ on Moscow Visitors /[SEGODNYA 17 Dec] .....ccccccccccssscssessessseenees 20 Presidential Aide: No State cf Emergency [Moscow Radio] .......sssscssssssssssssssssssessessssssesseessesseesseeees 20 FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 2 Central Eurasia Vasilyev Becomes Chubays New mene [KOMMERSANT-DAILY 17 De] ........scssccsessesssssssseseeees 23 New Party Looks To Uphold Provincial Interests —— Ae BE catetsnenasttssnrennsaensnsamnaiiinns 23 Fund Shortage Slows Komi Clean-Up [ITAR-TASS] .........:csccsscsssssssssssssssssssscesssscesscssssencesseescencseecees 24 Kremlin Withdraws Pass of TASS Correspondent /ITAR-TASS] .........::ccccscccsecceeeseceessceesscceessceeeseees 24 Government Discusses State Contol of Ostankino /RABOCHAYA TRIBUNA 16 Dec] ............000+++ 24 Results in Various Comcesms [IZ VESTIVA 16 DGG] cccscssccsesssccsccssesssssscsscssccosccscscccsscsscoscsssoosace 24 Economic Issues Livshits Discusses Current Issues /KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA 16-19 Dec] .......cccsscsssssscsseeseeeees 25 Trade Bill Increases State Regulation /SEGODNYA 16 oy | sgnaee sabiprensnessnannennninnstantunthadnbaneiuchanneeynes 28 Duma Approves Savings Compensation Law /[SEGODNYA 16 Dec] ...ccccccccccssscessescesseeessscceeeseceseeees 28 Military & Space Issues ‘Luch’ Communications Satellite Reaches Orbit /ITAR-TASS] ......ccsccssscssssssssssseseesesssssssssceessensensees 29 Samara Produces Modernized Rocket Motors i TEE | ssctnsennsisiescssntveenssinhentansateniamaiaienesead 29 Official Describes New Space Radar [INTERFAX] ....:cccccsccssccssccssscssecsssssssscssscssccseccscesssesssescsesscsessese 29 Federal Assembly Federation Council To Hear ‘Power Ministers’ on Chechnya /I/TAR-TASS] .00.....0:.cccccssecseeseceeeeseees 29 To Demand End of Chechen Military Action /ITAR-TASS] ......cc.cccccsccsssssessessseesseceeesseceseeeees 30 Dy OR ETD CO RE cercscttnerintecisnstectnntenesnsncasnesnsntinnnniacsntsisnsniainsnnnnionen 30 Duma Refuses To Discuss Chechnya Resolution /[TAR-TASS] .......:cccscsccssssessessesscsesensssescesseencesseess 30 Duma Passes Law on Presidential Elections /[INTERFAX] .........:cccsccssssssscsssssssscssssesssesccsesscessceeaeeeees 30 Committee Passes No-Confidence Measure on Shumeyko [INTERFAX] .........cccsssssssssssessesseessersees 31 Duma Defense Committee’s Piskunov Cited on Defense Budget /SEGODNYA 17 Dec] .............4.. 31 Regional Affairs a TORR Th SONG Te. BIE FT citntttesmnitsssentncaniceccenenissnrariniistsercietenninssintatensinissinennneen 31 ep a) ORR GS Lt, we evs 32 Chechen Leaders Insist on Troop Withdrawal //TAR-TASS) ......... sedeatenhdsanaianninnanstiinetenpuniaieeininiiaiee 32 Chechnya Refuses To Reply to Russia’s Telegram 9 /ITAR-TASS] .0.......::cccsccssssssssesescesscessseesceeescessees 32 Dudayev Refuses Meeting With Russian Ministers [INTERFAX] ...........cccscccscsssssscessseseesseeseeencessenee 32 Yegorov Threatens Further Air Strikes //TAR-TAS. YI sa niabeabbdperncdeceobsennnntensninnasbeaedanpnincstoinaernesenienetan 33 Lobov Says Arms Surrender Sole Issue for Talks ¢ DEEN | sasscrdcsnesvnnsennsanemannennesiunesbensatatsiaionens 33 No More Extensions to DenGiete [M6000 TV) cccccccssccssscscssccsccsssccsscsssscesessnssenecssssossccsaceseesesee 34 Groznyy Reported Calm as Deadline Passes /ITAR-TASS] ......cscccsssscssssesssessesseescessesseseeesseeeseeacensees 34 SPOT FGTOOS GD CUO POUND. COND TUE E ME itecssanntccscnntcccnssesnncnsccninapiocnonenniebenmassnanncsaantanins 34 Dudayev Telephone Conversation Intercepted /ITAR-TASS] .....:...ccccccsccccssccessceeesscecssececsseeessseeeeseees 34 Citochen Side Has “Spectite Prmmeedie’ [TTAR-TASS ccscrcccscsssssescsescssscscscssscccasesssssoanccassseccsesscensssecsese 36 Yandarbiyev Urges People To Show ‘Courage’ /ITAR-TASS] .......c.csccsssssssessssesssesscesescesseeescesseceseees 36 Yeltsin Calls for Territorial Administration /ITAR-TASS] ......cccccsssssssssssssssssesssscssecesscssessscsensencescees 36 Dudayev Orders Armed Formations To Resist /Moscow Radio] .........:ccccccssccsscesssessseecseeesececeereeeess 36 Shumeyko’s Peace Initiative Assessed /KOMMERSANT-DAILY 17 DOC] .......cc.ccssccsssesseseeesseeseeneees 36 ‘Strange’ Security Council Session Viewed /[KOMMERSANT-DAILY 17 Dec] .1.......ccccccccesseeseseeesees 37 SACee FUGEES OD Wee, Tere «= FTUI FF sascsnstssrnniccscsseccanssssectenssscanseenessccasoesenasicnsnesncaniniins 38 Shanibov Issues Resignation Statement /Radio ROSSI] .........c.ccccsccsscsssesseessesseeesecscessessceeceessesseeeeessees 38 Moscow’s Response to Telegram Anticipated /I1TAR-TASS] ...........:ccccccsssssceessesceeseseceseescseceecsesceeeees 38 “No More Answers’ to Dudayev’s Telegrams /1/TAR-TASS] .........ccc:sccccsssecsssccessscesscceessecessecceeeceesees 38 Call to Move ‘Frontline’ to Moscow Denied [ITAR-TASS] ........cccccsscscssssessscceesscceessecesseceecceceeeeeeees 39 Operations Against Russian Army Denied // te J seiasastastiehbhicadenhniraininaceendaasineneeinannibnensinsiepiblin 39 Dudayev Rejects Meeting With Yeltsin Envoy /I/TAR-TASS] ......c.:ccsscsssssssesscessscssessessceeceeccenteeeeeesees 39 Dudayev News Conference Detailed /1TAR-TASS] _ .........sscccosssssssscsssssssssssscsescsssccsecssassecsceeses 39 Soskovets, Others Cited on Chechnya Situation /INTERFAX] 000.....cc.cccccccccssscssseessessscessceesceceseeceeeees 40 Dudayev Forces Rebuff Russian Tank Attack [INTERFAX] .0....c.cccccccccsscsssscessessscesseessccssseecseeeseenees 40 Dudayev Asks Turkish President To Mediate /ITAR-TASS] ..........::ccccscessscceessseeeessecceseessereceeeceeeeees 40 Russian Troops Concentrating North of Groznyy [INTERFAX] .......ccccccccsssscssssscceseessesecesseeecesseeneees 40 Air Raid Reportedly Mounted Near Groznyy /ITAR-TASS] ........cccccccsssccssssesseesseessesesceceseesceceececesees 41 Caucasian Confederation Set To Aid Chechnya INTERFAX] .......ccccccssccssssssessssseesseesseseerseeeneencensens 41 No Nuctsar Weapons in Chechtiva (I ZVESITVA 87 DDG] ccccccccssccescsccssscscssscssssssesccsssetcccssscssscoscsosese 41 Migration Service Coping With Refugee Influx /1TAR-TASS] .......cccccscssscsssessssssessesscersceeceeesenceeneeeee 42 Ilyushenko Interviewed on Chechnya [Russian TV] ...........cccccscsccccesssscceessseceeesrececssscceececseceeceesceeeeees 42 Ingush President Calls for Troop Withdrawal /SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA 17 Dec] ......cc.sc.sscssseeeeee 44 Galazov Condemns Exploitation of Crisis /ITAR-TASS] .......:s.sssssseegeessssssssssssssesesescseseseeeesescesecesssess 45 Dagestan Calls For Peaceful Solution — Ir Teer -taneasenasnanaterietssanicnsneanenincenaidienebniansetoenesisacnanesinennn 45 Deputy Says Chechnya Policy ‘Uncoordinated’ /ITAR-TASS] ........ccccccssssssssesscesseesssceseeesecesseeesceenes 45 Cossacks Urge ‘Full Force,’ Offer To Help ([TRUD 17 Dec] .....sssscssssssssssssssrssssssssssesssnsnsnsnessseecsesesees 45 ‘Experts’ Claim Army ‘Dragged Into’ Conflict /NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA 17 Dec] ... UN Team’s Findings on Komi Oil Spill Reported /ITAR-TASS] ........:cccccccssssssssssssssecescessecesseeeseeees 47 FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 3 Central Eurasia UKRAINE International Affairs Prime Minister Issues Communique on Visit to Belarus /Kiev International] .........c.c.c.cscecssessseseseee 48 Crimean President Assesses CSCE Visit /INTERFAX] ............-.ssscsscscsssscscsssssssssssscssesssssseesesssessesesees 48 Transcarpathian Parties Oppose Joint Defense Accord [UNIAR] .......cc.ccccsccccsescscssssssssesessesesseseesenees 48 Kuchma Meets German Economists, Discusses Stabilization /Kiev International] ..............0..s.s0000 49 EBRD Opens Credit Line for Ukraine /ITAR-TASS] .............csssceecssssesessesessssssessssessscssescscesssnenseasece ade Business Information Service Launched in Kiev [Kiev International] .............c0csssssssesesssessesesssssnenee ae National Affairs Chechnya Events Said To Influence Crimean Situation /MOLOD UKRAYINY 15 Dec] ...........00.+ 49 Crimean Officials Meet on Chechnya, Crime Protection /ITAR-TASS] .....:c:cc:csssssssssssessseseescsseseeees 50 Black Sea Fleet Refutes Reports of ‘Red Alert’ Status Posen pd CRT RITE BS DGGE ccccscecsssesesseces 50 Kuchma, Deputies To Coordinate Political Reforms /INTERFAX] ........cccccscsssssessessesecsesseseecescscesees 50 Parliamentary Groups Comment on Draft State Power Law [UNIAR] ..........cecessecesessesesesssessesseceees 51 ‘Reforms’ Group Suggests Law Be ‘Reworked’ (/Kiev International] ........c...ccecssssesscseseseessecees 51 interregional Reform Bloc Holds Founding Congress pe ge) satiiiaepéanebainmnsesinanasiinsintnnapaatnansiens 51 Supreme Council Elections Postponed for One Year /ITAR-TASS] ....cc.cc.cccccccssssscscsssssessesseeseesessenee 52 Consumer Price Index Shows Ist Decrease in 4 Months /INTELNEWS] ...........c:cessssssesssseseseeseseeees 52 WESTERN REGION Belarus ss Masol Express ‘Contentment’ With Visit (Minsk eel casonsecscsenscccsecscossonscssenescoosnesesoosssese 53 Lukashenka Favors Economic Contacts With Ukraine /INTERFAX] 00.......c.cccscescesecseseeseseesesseneneeees 53 Soldiers Issue Statement on ‘Chechen Criminals’ (Minsk Radio] ............ccsccccsssecessesessescecssseseeseseeeees 54 Officials Uncover Counterfeit Dollar Operation /INTERFAX] . ..........ccscsscesessessssessessesessescesenseecacenees 54 Moldova CSCE Official Discusses 14th Army’s Role With Lebed /BASAPRESS] .0.......:..ccssescessssesssssesssseeeeees 54 NATO Experts Inspect 14th Army Deployed in Dniester /BASAPRESS] ..........:ssessesssseseessesseesees 54 Arguments Over Russian Peacemakers’ Future Summed Up /ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA 15 Dec] . 54 CENTRAL ASIA Kazakhstan Nazarbayev Receives European Community Mission to Almaty [Almaty TV] .........csssssssesssesssseesees 56 Nazarbayev Receives Visiting Latvian President [Almaty TV] ..........cccccccssccsscsseescesseeseesserscesseeceeseees 56 Trade Relations Discussed /ITAR-TASS] ..........:000:0000 suybennasonnesesqennensnnnenneetanonannensentannannsenetios 56 Nazarbayev, Ulmanis Discuss Issues (Riga Radio] .............cccsccsccsssesseescesssessessesscecsseceesceeneensees 57 Deputy Defense Minister on Russia, Army [PANORAMA 10 Dec] .0........cccccccseecs-cseesceeseeeee-scseeeevese 57 Chechnya Viewed as Integral Part of Russia /ITAR-TASS] ........ccccccssssssssessessescessesseseessencencenceneeneenes 59 Nazarbayev Addresses Conference on National Issues a ee ITE FO TI crctitenssstsnissececemanrigmpnnnnasemnamnenmneannanernatnngninnmnnignies 59 Deputy Prime Minister on Encouraging Signs in Economy /SOVETY KAZAKHSTANA 13 Dec] .. 60 Kyrgyzstan Uzbeks Play Political Games With Gas Supply /VECHERNIY BISHKEK 17 Dec] .......-.:.ss0+++1+000+ 61 Diplomatic Relations Established With Kuwait /Bishkek Radio] ..........c.cccscssscssseesesssessceecesseeeeensenee 62 Kazakh Embassy Opens in Bishkek [Bishkek Radio] ...........ccccccsscsscessseeseeseees pistienimaeemnenn 62 Akayev Signs Edict on Local Heads of Bishkek, Osh 9 /Bishkek Radio] ...........ssscsscsssssseseessessesesensees 62 Tajikistan Rakhmanov Returns From ICO Summit in Casablanca [Dushanbe Radio] ............cscsssssessesseeeeseees 63 Muslims Warn Chechen Bloodshed Could Trigger Caucasian War [INTERFAX] ............cs0cses00eees 63 Text of Tajik Constitution /LENINABADSKAYA PRAVDA 30 Nov] ....cc.scsssssssssssesssessssssssesessesenssees 63 Turkmenistan Russian Ambassador on Turkmen-Russian Citizenship /VECHERNIY ASHGABAT 12 Dec] ......... 72 Cotton Delivered to Pakistan Via Afghanistan /TURKMENSKAYA ISKRA 10 Dec] .........00.000000000 73 Uzbekistan World Bank Regional Director Pledges Financial Aid /INTERFAX] ........c.sccssscssssssccssesseersneesescesees 73 Agreement on Tashkent-Brussels Air Link /PRAVDA VOSTOKA 16 Dec] ......s..scssccssssesseecsesseesensees 73 FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 — ‘Likely’ To Be Postponed Until Feb LD1612174494 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1714 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By BELINFORM correspondent Svetlana Kalinkina for TASS] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Minsk December 16—The CIS summit of heads of state scheduled for December 23, 1994 in Alma-Ata [Almaty] is likely to be postponed for early February 1995, CIS executive secretary Ivan Korotchenya told at a meeting with the Ukrainian dele- gation today. The BELINFORM news agency was told by sources that the delay was not officially announced because Kaza- khstan, the host state, has not formulated its response so far. CIS leaders have signed a letter to Russian President Boris Yeltsin, saying that the summit was put off because agenda items were not urgent and required more thor- ough preparation. It is expected that Kazakhstan will make an official statement on the matter late on Friday. Meanwhile, February 10 is cited as a tentative new date. Railroad Chiefs Agree To Resume Cooperation MM 1612144394 Moscow ROSSIYSKIYE VESTI in Russian 16 Dec 94 p 2 [Report by Tatyana Kolysko under the “Transport” rubric: “CIS Railroads: Is There a Way Cut of the Siding?”’] [FBIS Translated Text] The division of the railroads after the disintegration of the Union had a hypothetical au aboui +t Decause they are the property of all the states in comm pn use. But while some peopie got the bagel, others got the hole in the middle: Many republics lost their repair base or were left without facilities for the production of ties and rails. In the Transcaucasus, for example, thousands of freightcars are standing idle—the railroads are blocked. Russia inherited 70 percent of the freightcar mainte- nance load. Rail shipments are being maintained now only by using old cars and reducing commodity circula- tion. All these and many other problems were discussed in Moscow at the 12th session of the CIS states’ rail transport council, with the participation of the Baltic states. In conditions when economic cooperation between the former republics is being revived, albeit slowly and arduously, disaster can strike from where you least expect it—delay in the solution of railroad problems could paralyze the work of transport. INTERREGIONAL AFFAIRS It seems that everyone has understood that. The govern- ments of all the states are beginning to face up to transport problems. After some arguments and mutual recriminations the leaders of the CIS railroads found a way out of the siding they were in, and eventually it was decided that all reciprocal debts would be frozen and new settlements would begin in the new year. Those states which cannot carry out freightcar repairs must contribute funds from the budget for their repair, otherwise they will not be supplied with freightcars in good condition. Economic and financial levers have been agreed for those that are the most “disobedient.” It is also proposed that prices for shipments will be adjusted, because ultimately everyone suffers from unwarranted price increases. There is further good news for the transport industry: Traffic is resuming on the Veselaya-Sukhumi-Samtredia line. There is a hope that this will mark the beginning of the unblocking of the railroads in the Caucasus region: after all, this affects trade with Turkey and Iran. Having signed the agreement on further cooperation, the railroad leaders agreed to meet in April-May next year in Odessa. By that time it should be clear what effect all these warnings and agreements have had. Otherwise that meeting under the blossoming chestnut trees will end with so much empty noise. ITAR-TASS Carries Press Review for 17 Dec LD1712155794 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 0625 GMT 17 Dec 94 (“Press Review”—ITAR-TASS headline] {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 17 (ITAR- TASS)—Leading Russian newspapers continue to give main attention to the situation in and outside Chechnya. ““Moscow has made another attempt to prevent blood- shed in Chechnya and to settle the conflict in that small North-Caucasian republic peacefully,”’ writes the ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA newspaper in its today’s issue. The daily notes that “President Boris Yeltsin extended by another 48 hours the time of laying down arms by all illegal armed formations in Chechnya”. The newspaper claims in another article that “the com- mand (eds: of units of the interior and defence minis- tries) received information from local population that panicky sentiments developed among Dudayev’s gunmen, which flared up into disputes in some cases ard turned into armed clashes. “This is attributed to the latest address by the Russian president to extend by another 48 hours the time of laying down arms and amnesty.” This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. INTERREGIONAL AFFAIRS The NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA newspaper features an appeal by the Chechen diaspora in Moscow to Boris Yeltsin and Chechen president Dzhokhar Dudayev. The appeal to Yeltsin says the following: ““Thousands of Russian people in Chechnya, and even greater numbers of Chechens live and work in Russia. “Following long years of joint life when they jointly experienced much sufferings which fell to the lot of our peoples, when they are linked by fraternal and friendly family ties and when the entire economy is built as a single whole, the geographical position shows that our peoples cannot be divided by any sovereignties.” The appeal to Dudayev says: ““Hundreds and even thou- sands of people who now stand next to you, and even greater numbers of civilians, can die. The best and the most honest people die the first. Be it a brief Chechen war or a large-scale, protracted Caucasian war, the best part of our people will die’’. The same newspaper carries an article by Vladimir Lysenko, chairman of the State Duma (Russian parlia- ment lower house) subcommittee on the development of federal relations, who writes: “Now that the level of bitterness and mistrust between federal executive power and the Chechen authorities reached its acme, neither the idea of a constitutional federation, nor the idea of an independent state can bring an understanding and com- promise between Russia and Chechnya. “‘Under these conditions, I believe the idea of a confed- erative union could be a possible form of compromise.” The NOVAYA EZHEDNEVNAYA GAZETA news- paper features an interview with Ingush Vice-President Boris Agapov where he writes: “‘Following the break- down of the first negotiations and the start of the troops’ offensive, we have on our hands not a skirmish between Groznyy and Moscow, between Dudayev and Yeltsin, but a war between Chechnya and Russia... “There is one way out of this situation: May be it is more shameful than earlier but without bloodshedding—to stop troops.” “Supporters of two versions for settling the Russian- Chechen crisis have now taken sides in the leadership of the republic,” Chechen Vice-President Selimkhan Yan- darbayev said in an interview with the IZVESTIYA newspaper. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 ““Some believe that the talks in Vladikavkaz were only a cover for Russia to continue the advance of its armour to Groznyy. They insist on stepping up combat operations. However, those who regard the continuation of the talks the only hope for stopping the bloodshed also preserve influential positions. “Chechen Prosecutor-General Usman Imayev is among them, the newspaper notes. ’He lays the main responsi- bility for mountains of arms in the republic on the Russian Army which, leaving Chechnya in 1991, left there submachine-guns, pistols, tanks, missile launchers, planes and various ammunition. “According to Imayev, authorities do not know what to do with a batch of artillery shells with nuclear warheads. Imayev claims that the republic does not have a special depot for this ammunition. They now lie at depots together with ordinary artillery shells.” The prosecutor- general claims that the shells are in the area of Shali city. The same newspaper runs a statement by the Russian Defence Ministry, refuting that Dudayev’s military detachments have nuclear weapons. “All our warheads and bombs are at a right place. We know all of them. Chechriya had no and does not have nuclear weapons,” stresses the statement. The SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA newspaper prints an interview with Ingush President Ruslan Aushev, saying: “The bloodshed should be stopped and troops pulled out. This should not be considered as a defeat or humil- iation of dignity. “It is clear that the army will reach Groznyy, will build up its military might. The country is vast and its might is great. But does anybody know a historic example when a people was destroyed?” ““A rapacious sale-out of oil (which is extremely painful both for Russia and for the west), counterfeiting of Russian money, forging of false bank advice notes, piratic attacks on passing trains and formation of ‘trav- elling’ mobs violated even unwritten code of dishon- esty,” writes the PRAVDA newspaper. “Russia saw again like in a mirror what our state may turn into: Chechnya became, as it were, a dreadful nrotutype of this. There is no way of avoiding this ieeling: ‘Xe war in Chechnya became a war with our own shadow. Therefore, it is just and unjust at the same time. Hence, our defeats in the battlefield and at the negoti- ating table...” This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Gore Performing ‘Diplomatic Tightrope-Walk’ MM 1612161594 Moscow IZVESTIYA in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 4 [Article by Stanislav Kondrashov: “Internal Affair With International Repercussions’’] [FBIS Translated Text] Speaking at Wednesday’s [14 December] “roundtable” convened by the Foreign Min- istry leadership to discuss the results of and possible prospects for Russian foreign policy, Andrey Kozyrev covered all the “azimuths” and did not say a word about Chechnya. Which is understandable: It is an internal matter and, accordingly, rather more a matter for [Internal Minister] Viktor Yerin’s department. Never- theless, as we know, this internal matter has personally concerned the foreign minister: Was it not because of Chechnya that Kozyrev left the “‘Russia’s Democratic Choice” Duma faction and abandoned Gaydar in order to show his loyalty to Yeltsin? Chechnya has “plagued” him. The development of events inevitably raises a broader question: Will it plague Russia and the Russian president in the international arena, and how? At first glance, the question has already been answered: No, it will not. U.S. President Clinton set the tone by quite clearly stressing what had been expected, namely that the intro- duction of Russian troops into Chechnya is Russia’s internal affair since Chechnya is part of Russia. Vice President Albert Gore, who is in Moscow for another reason, backed this idea during his conversations and talks, and the idea rapidly did the rounds of all the G-7 capitals as far as Tokyo. However, Clinton’s first response contained another element that was picked up by his colleagues but kind-of went unnoticed by us—the hope of minimum bloodshed. This proviso, which is also natural, harbors the possi- bility of a chase of approach to events in Chechnya in the event of mass casualties and devastation, which would demonstrate the ineffectiveness of the Russian military machine and thus—in extremely critical cir- cumstances, moreover—the weakness of the Russian state and its leadership led by the president. In the eyes of foreign politicians and the international public Chechnya constitutes a test for the new Russia, a test to see whether both its territory and its democracy will fall apart. Here are two quotations from lead articles by two British newspapers, with their unsurpassed experience of cov- ering military campaigns in multinational states and empires. THE TIMES: “A nation cannot tolerate the threat of armed conflict in its own country. Negotiations backed by the threat of force would have been the best way out. But now there is no turning back. If force is to be used, it must be coordinated and overwhelming. Half- measures will only increase the opposition and lead to RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS bloodshed. As it is, the political muddle in Moscow and the abortive military operations in Chechnya make a swift, effective operation far from likely. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: “Although no foreign state will come to the aid of the insurgents, the Russians’ behavior in Chechnya is a matter of Western concern. One will be able to judge the nature of the Russian state from how force is used and how extensively the Chechens are allowed to enjoy their democratic rights. And this approach will be an important factor in defining the West’s positions with regard to Russia on such matters as the future of Ukraine and the Baltic states.” THE NEW YORK TIMES considers Yeltsin’s use of military force to be “justified”; a writer in France’s LE MONDE is haunted by the ghost of Afghanistan in Chechnya and a “new adventure for the Kremlin’s leaders,” while Germany’s OSTSEEZEITUNG sees the military expedition as “dancing on a volcano that may awaken” and believes that “the Caucasus could prove the end of Yeltsin’s political career.” Thus journalists, freer with their views, are writing something that officials prefer to keep quiet for the time being: Certainly it is an internal matter, certainly we are not interfering, but we are scrutinizing the situation and our view of this internal matter will depend on how it goes. We reserve that right. In the context of international life the war in Chechnya began right after the CSCE conference (now renamed the OSCE) in Budapest. The two buddies—Bill and Boris— bickered in front of 50 other leaders and the whole world. In order to ensure that the Cold War did not become a cold peace, Yeltsin opposed NATO’s expan- sion via the admission of the USSR’s former allies. Clinton spoke “in favor” of this proposal and stated that he does not acknowledge the Kremlin’s right of veto on this matter Now the excessive display of military might in Chechnya along with its hamfisted savagery is providing a trump card for those countries—NATO candidates—that are fond of citing the historically proven danger of close proximity to the “Russian bear”—even the new breed, which nas not sufficiently proved itself in democratic society. At the moment this trump card is not being played so as not to cause excessive embarrassment for Yeltsin, but it is to hand and may prove useful in time. On the other hand, the ordinary Chechens who have gotten into trouble may elicit the compassion of the civilized world, but this will not be the case with Dudayev’s regime, which, if it is recognized in the international arena at all, is only seen as a source of criminal danger. Even the Muslim world is wary of unconditionally backing Groznyy’s incumbent ruler. The fact that the military campaign in Chechnya is compelling the West to adopt a different position toward This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 4 RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Yeltsin—in the most dramatic circumstances since October 1993—is equally important. Will they still sup- port him? Yes, albeit because there is no option. At what distance should they back him? That needs clarification. Sober foreign observers at the very least see double when it comes to the domestic political situation in Russia. The image of the democrats is divided particularly after Gaydar, whom the West is accustomed to consider the incarnation of the Russian democrat, opposed Yeltsin— the supreme Russian democrat in power—on the ques- tion of Chechnya. Cold calculation and quite practical considerations are forcing Western leaders to side with the man in power, the man with whom for that reason they can and must do business. But without the former embraces, without displays of closeness which the public would not under- stand given the bloody television and photographic footage from Chechnya. While in Moscow Vice President Gore also performed this diplomatic tightrope-walk. Overly warm relations with Yeltsin could be perceived as giving the go-ahead for his accelerated evolution toward authoritarianism. But gestures of aloofness could be equally dangerous. They would intensify the impression of the Russian president’s isolation and would play into the hands of his nationalist and “neoimperialist’” opponents, who are also the West’s main adversaries. After Budapest Washington’s desire to ease the impres- sion of an impending chill in relations with Moscow is noticeable. As Kozyrev did at the above “roundtable,” they are being presented as disagreements within the partnership, but disagreements that do not cancel it out. No Progress in Nuclear Sphere Reported at U.S.-Russia Talks MK1712082094 Moscow SEGODNYA in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 1 [Report by Pavel Felgengauer in the “Contacts” column: “The U.S. Market Remains Closed to Russian Uranium. The Chernomyrdin-Gore Talks Have Not Been as Suc- cessful as They Have Been Made Out To Be”’} [FBIS Translated Text] U.S. Vice President Al Gore said yesterday during a reception at the U.S. Embassy that as a result of prolonged talks, he and Viktor Chernomyrdin agreed with the opinion of their wives (Valentina and Tipper) to change the future time and venue for sessions of the joint Russian-U.S. commission. The next session will again take place in Moscow in June, and only the sixth session will be held in a year in Washington. Yet it is not so easy to reach agreement on substantive matters. Atomic Energy Minister Viktor Mikhaylov told SEGODNYA’s correspondent that no progress has been reached in the nuclear sphere. “The U.S. market has remained closed to our uranium: Nobody is going to lift antidumping decisions.” Moreover, the Americans have FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 unilaterally worsened sharply the terms of an earlier agreement on supplies of surplus weapons-grade ura- nium (500 tonnes). ““We have not as yet delivered one gram under this contract, and under the scheme pro- posed by the American we shall not implement it at all. This is unfavorable to us,” Viktor M*khaylov said. Furthermore, the Americans have not so far allocated the Atomic Industry Ministry a single cent of the $95 million promised for 1993-94 to reinforce security mea- sures at nuclear installations. When rhetoric ends and money business begins, partnership immediately runs into difficulties. Summing up the results of the meeting, Viktor Cherno- myrdin, in a fit of temper, announced that “we are really tired of 1994. We wish it would end as soon as possible.” Gore Urges Chernomyrdin To Heed Chevron’s Interests MK1612105094 Moscow SEGODNYA in Russian 16 Dec 94 p 1 [Report by Rustam Narzikulov under the “Lobbying” rubric: “Gore Pursues Chevron’s Kazakhstani Inter- ests”) [FBIS Translated Text] According to an ITAR-TASS report, U.S. Vice President Albert Gore, who is staying in Moscow, has suggested to Viktor Chernomyrdin that “international financial organizations be attracted to appraise the effectiveness of proposals by the U.S. com- pany Chevron” on joining the Caspian Pipeline Consor- tium (CPC) to construct an oil pipeline from the Tengiz field in Kazakhstan to the port of Novorossiysk. Mr. Gore’s proposal is aimed against the special rights granted by the Russian Government to Oman, which will get a 25-percent stake in the CPC in exchange for $150-$200 million in investment and another $400-$450 million in financial guarantees at the initial stage of the project. By comparison, Russia and Oman requested that Chevron pay a one-time bonus worth $300-$400 million and guarantee the minimal utilization of the pipeline’s capacity in exchange for those same 25 percent of the shares. Earlier Chevron refused to accept these terms, but the company does not have other routes to transport Tengiz oil but across Russian territory, which explains Albert Gore’s new initiatives at his working breakfast with Viktor Chernomyrdin. Gore, Chernomyrdin Sign Agreements on Space, Conversion MM1612165594 Moscow IZVESTIYA in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 3 [Report by Sergey Leskov: “‘Nicer To Discuss Space and Oil To a Blues Accompaniment”’] This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 [FBIS Translated Text] Malicious gossip has it that U.S. Vice President Albert Gore came to Russia to hear blues genius B.B. King, who is on tour in Moscow. This is due to the fact that the results of the visit and the work of the Russian-U.S. commission on economic, scientific, and technical cooperation are by no means mind-boggling. But if you analyze it you find that the apparent slow progress is due to the extreme complexity of the prob- lems under discussion. Special attention is focused on space cooperation. Russia and the United States are faced with building the mon- umental “Alpha” space station, which will provisionally cost $15 billion. In Moscow Gore sounded out the possibility of putting U.S. astronauts on the station not in 2002, as previously intended, but in 1998. It is perfectly possible that Moscow will agree to add one U.S. astronaut to its crew. The first step has already been taken in that direction: Chernomyrdin and Gore signed a memorandum on creating a joint medical and biolog- ical space research center. Another two documents were signed in the space sphere. One of them stipulates the installation of U.S. apparatus to investigate the ozone layer in the Russian “‘Meteor” satellite. The second agreement is very interesting. It concerns a vulgar earthly matter—customs. One tonne of U.S. scientific equipment for the Russian “Spektr” module has been sitting doing nothing in Russian cus- toms. Customs are demanding the payment of a freight charge, while the Americans claim that it is just passing th rough Russia on the way into orbit. The agreement removes customs barriers to space freight. Experts place the finally agreed plan for the creation of the first Russian-U.S. joint venture in the conversion sphere by the Russian ““Nauka” Science and Production Association and the U.S. “Hamilton Standard” firm (a subsidiary of “United Technology”) in the category of minor sensations, which may be followed by cooperation surpassing the successful space experience by far. At stage one this venture will develop life-support systems for civilian aircraft. In March 1995 the first five systems will be installed on the new Russian Tu-204 aircraft. The Russian side’s contribution is know-how and production facilities, with the Americans providing equipment and money. The cost of the whole project is more than $35 million, and $2.6 million have already been allocated by the Conversion Enterprises Fund, set up by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Overseas Private Invest- ment Corporation. Accoding to information from informed sources, the only question on which Gore and Chernomyrdin failed to achieve mutual understanding was the U.S. “Chev- ron” Company’s participation in constructing an oil pipeline from the Tengiz oilfield. On condition that it receives one-half of the shares, ‘““Chevron” is prepared to provide the lion’s share of the funding, but the Russian side regards these proposals as disadvantageous. The RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 5 plan envisages the construction of an oil pipeline from Tengiz to Novorossiysk and of a freight terminal in the new Novorossiysk port. Gore Welcomes Signing LD1612181694 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1617 GMT 16 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, Dec 16 (INTER- FAX)—US Vice President Albert Gore highly appreci- ates the development of the Russian-American coopera- tion. Summing up results of the work of the Russian- American Commission on Economic and Scientific- Technical Cooperation at a press conference in Moscow, Gore declared that the parties have managed to create such an atmosphere in which “any misunderstandings, which are sometimes inevitable, are directly solved in an open form.” Gore pointed to “a great significance” of the documents which were signed Friday at inter-governmental level. Among them are the agreement on cooperation to pre- vent contamination in the Arctic region, on cooperation in space exploration, on principles of customs registra- tion of goods shipped in the frameworks of program providing for cooperation and exploitation of space for peace purposes. Among the most important agreements signed at the level of ministries Gore named the joint statement on the development of trade-economic cooperation between Russia’s Far East and America’s western cocst, the memorandum on mutual understanding between the Russian government and OPIC corporation to support conversion in the Russian Federation, and the statement on financing and insuring investments allotted by OPIC and amounting to $500 million to implement conversion projects in Russia. Gore also reported that both countries would continue their active work to improve access of Russian goods to the American market. The next session of the Chernomyrdin-Gore commission is to be held in six months’ time in Moscow. Chernomyrdin Stresses Respect, Responsibility in USS. Ties LD1612122094 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1157 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondents Pavel Vanichkin and Andrey Shtorkh] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 16 TASS— “Despite unavoidable snags Russian-American partner- ship is working and effective,” Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin said today in summing up the This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 6 RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS results of the fourth session of the Russian-U.S. Com- mission for Economic and Technological Cooperation which ended in Moscow on Friday [!6 December]. Chernomyrdin stressed that “Russia and America have learned to build their relations on the basis of respect for miutual interests and the growing awareness of their responsibility for the future”. He said the commission has traversed a path “from determining the general principles of cooperation to specific projects which can yield tangible results in the nearest future”. The Russian prime minister, who was speaking at a press conference in Moscow's President Hotel, cited as such specific projects the agreement on cooperation in pre- venting the pollution of the Arctic, which he signed with U.S. Vice President Albert Gore today, the Russian- American agreement on cooperation under the globe programme, the agreement on customs formalities relating to goods transported within the framework of Russian-American cooperation in space research and use for peaceful purposes. In the course of the two-day commission session in Moscow, about twenty major documents were signed covering different aspects of Russian and U.S. coopera- tion in the economic, scientific and technological spheres. “The work of the fourth session of our commission showed convincingly that in the eighteen months since its creation, our joint efforts succeeded in turning it into an effective mechanism of promoting Russian-American cooperation in the most sensitive and important spheres of interaction,” Chernomyrdin said. He pointed to coop- eration in the spheres of high technology, conversion, environmental protection and health services. Chernomyrdin expressed confidence that in a few months “we shall have another opportunity for meeting and working productively in the interest of deepening and developing our partnership”. Says Gore Visit ‘Very Important’ MM1612170794 Moscow ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA in Russian 17 Dec 94 First Edition p 1 [Unattributed report under “Events of the Day” rubric: “Success of Talks”’] [FBIS Translated Text] Yesterday Russian Federation Goverment Chairman Viktor Chernomyrdin appeared at a news conference after the fourth session of the Russ: 1n-U.S. Commission on Economic and Technolog- ical Cooperation had finished its work. Chernomyrdin rated the following, signed by him and U.S. Vice President Albert Gore, as very important: the agreement on cooperation to prevent pollution in the Arctic, the Russian-U.S. agreement on cooperation on the GLOBE program, and the agreement on a customs FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 registration procedure for goods being transported within the framework of Russian-U.S. cooperation in the sphere of researching and utilizing space for peaceful purposes. Around twenty other important documents concerning various aspects of cooperation between Russia and the United States in the spheres of eco- nomics, science, and technology were signed during the two-day session. Shift in Investment Policy Seen as Gore Visit’s Main Result MM1612192594 Moscow KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 3 [Report by Yevgeniy Anisimoyv under the “Visits” rubric: “Gore Promises the Moon’’} [FBIS Translated Text] U.S. Vice President Albert Gore and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin dis- cussed the problems of Russian-U.S. cooperation in the President-Hotel on Thursday [15 December] and Friday. It is assumed that the fourth session of this commission should lead to the signing of a number of very important documents. Notably on developing deposits in the Pri- obskiy oil field, conversion projects, and cooperation in space. According to Yu. Shafranik, Russian minister for fuel and energy, the main result of the meeting is that Russia’s foreign partners are moving away from a policy of offering credits to a strategy of direct investments in our economy. The advantage of this change is obvious: Whereas credits have to be repaid, and indeed with interest, then direct investments mean that the American side is prepared to share the risk of developing new projects with us. Gore Visit Succeeded in ‘Easing Differences’ MM 1612204194 Moscow SELSKAYA ZHIZN in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 2 [““Viewpoint” article by Andrey Balebanov: ““Overcom- ing Differences”} [FBIS Translated Excerpt] Despite the statement which Andrey Kozyrev, head of the Russian foreign policy department, made a few days ago that Russia and the United States are united by “a firm commitment to the concept of partnership,” the arrival in Moscow of an American delegation headed by U.S. Vice President Albert Gore was undoubtedly aimed at softening the sharpness in bilateral relations. The exisience of differ- ences between Moscow and Washington both on the Bosnia problem and on the question of NATO expansion were given full voice at the Budapest meeting of CSCE countries’ leaders, as our paper has already written. And although the high-ranking U.S. delegation’s visit is for- melly connected with the work of the fourth session of the Russian-U.S. commission on economic and techno- logical cooperation, the entire gamut of relations This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 between the two countries was examined at the talks and meetings in Moscow. [passage omitted]. In any case, this visit by such a high-powered [pred- stavitelnyy] American delegation has again made it pos- sible to bring the two countries’ positions closer, find compromise, and—most importantly—continue eco- nomic and technological cooperation. The attempt to ease differences can on the whole be considered to have succeeded. Gore Interviewed on Settlement of Chechen Conflict LD1612222394 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1542 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS] [FBIS Transcribed Texi] Moscow December 16—Albert Gore was not asked to ict as an intermediator and does not see any role for himself in the settlement of the Chechen conflict, the American vice president told an ITAR-TASS correspondent today at a reception at the residence of the U.S. ambassador to Moscow. Gore said he did not think this would be appropriate for him. The settlement in Chechnya is Russia’s internal affair, Gore said. The vice president said the United States was watching Chechnya’s developments with con- cern and wanted the negotiation process to continue. Recent reports of Western media aileged that Gore was asked by Dzhokhar Dudayev’s adherents to mediate their negotiation with Moscow’s federal authorities. Differing U.S. Views Cited on Wider NATO MM 1612155194 Moscow TRUD in Russian 16 Dec 94 ps [Commentary by Vissarion Sisnev: ‘‘Moscow- Washingtcn: Something Has Started To Cool. United States Predetermines Complication of U.S.-Russian Relations” } [FBIS Translated Text] Washington—-The last month of the year has been marked by the birtin of a new political term—*“Talbottism.” It means an orientation toward the strengthening of relations with the new Russia in all political and economic areas, as championed by Strobe Talbott, a personal friend of the president and his adviser on U.S.-Russian problems, who now occupies the post of deputy secretary of state. Some people have even claimed that his formula is “‘Russia first.” The first to use his name as a term was THE WASHINGTON POST on 11 December, in an article with the expressive headline “U.S.-Russian Relations Crack,” which said, citing an unnamed Polish official: ““We can see that Talbottism has come to an end.” The article analyzes the broad spectrum of our mutual relations, but emphasis is put on what occurred at the meeting of CSCE heads of state and goverament. RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 7 Despite the fact that recent days have been full of other important events, observers continue time and again to return to the question of extending NATG membership and of the Russian leaders’ attitude to this. The same article in the liberal Washington newspaper says that “if the discord between East and West gets worse, Yeltsin’s 5 December speech at the Budapest summit could be considered a turning point.” “Europe faces the danger of beirg plunged into a Cold War,” he said in a speech colored by suspicion of the West. It is curious that in both this and most other cases commentators mention only in passing the differences of opinion on the Bosnian problem and the second Russian veto in the Security Council. The main focus of attention and dissatisfaction is Moscow’s position on NATO’s future, which was by all accounts predetermined in Washington political circles long ago, and at the time it was in no way expected that Moscow’s reaction could be so distinctly negative. Roughly speaking, it seems that this future was mapped out as follows: Former USSR satellites in East Europe simultaneously join the Atlantic bloc, and West European borders are thus automatically moved right up to Russia. Here is what James Baker, Republican foreign policy ideologist and former secretary of state, writes in an article circulated by the LOS ANGELES TIMES syndi- cate: “After the Cold War ended Central European countries made phenomenal progress toward democracy and a market system. But Central Europe’s security remains in _copardy, bearing in mind the potential instability further to the east. The Clinton administra- tion’s Partnership for Peace’ proposal predetermined an inevitable expansion of NATO. The 104th Congress (now dominated by Republicans—V. S.) must force the administration to set about expanding NATO without delay. Specifically, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic must be accepted as full members of NATO. By doing this, the United States and their NATO allies will give a new impetus to the reforms in Central Europe and will strengthen the continent’s security as a whole.” Baker, who is seen by many as a future U.S. president, does not forget about Russia here: “The 104th Congress must continue funding and technical aid for the reforms in Russia....”” Further: “Russia is a country that is not dependent on the United States; our interests sometimes may not coincide, as happens even with our traditional allies. But it is important to remember the main thing: the need to integrate into the international community a democratic, stable, and trustworthy Russia—the only country in the world still capable of destroying the United States.” But by all accounts, although this was written after Budapest, Baker is not very concerned about Moscow’s attitude to the advance toward its borders of a bloc with which it will have only a distant relationship. Evidently the former secretary of state also has no doubt that the Russians will grumble and grumble but nonetheless agree to everything Washington proposes to them—what else This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 8 RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS can they do if this is where the main aid and suppor? for the reforms is expected to come from? This most likely explains a remark in THE WASHINGTON POST that “Secretary of State Christopher is not too concerned by the Russians’ behavior.” But the Americans’ viewpoint on NATO expansion and Russia’s position in this context are by no means con- fined to the foregoing. It is very indicative that the most senior of those who were previously called Sovietolo- gists—Richard Pipes, professor of history at Harvard University, who was widely known as being anti-Soviet and anticommunist when Clinton and Baker were still going to school, has “sided with the Russians.” He stated plainly that he quite understands President Yeltsin’s concern over the proposed expansion of NATO’s sphere of influence. Let us assume that Pipes is “out of touch with life” and that generally his comments do not reach a very wide circle of people now. Another example can be taken. SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE political observer B. Cutler is printed simultaneously in newspa- pers throughout the country, but he is particularly respected by publications of the conservative tendency. His latest column is called ““Reasons for Russia’s Recal- citrance.” Cutler insists that Yeltsin has the weightier arguments “in the dispute over the addition of new members to the alliance of 16 nations. This step is not prompted by necessity and will have the reverse results.... The Russians have in their blood a historically shaped fear of being surrounded. They will see a NATO that is expanding and advancing toward them as a hostile, dangerous grouping.” Does this mean that Moscow is scared of its own shadow and experiencing unjustified fear, Cutler asks his readers. He answers: It is worth pondering how we would react if Russia created a “defensive alliance” with Mexico and started holding joint military maneuvers a little to the south of El Paso (a Texas city on the border with Mexico—V. S.). He ends with the advice: “‘Wash- ington’s ivory-tower strategists should stop muttering about a new security structure’ for Europe. In diplomacy the best line is often to leave a given problem alone.” As the saying goes, the people concerned should take note. NATO Secretary General Views NATO-Russia Dialogue LD1712112694 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 2350 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Aleksandr Minayev] [FBIS Translated Text] Brussels, 17 Dec—NATO Secre- tary General Willy Claes told an ITAR-TASS correspon- dent and a number of other journalists accredited to the alliance’s Brussels headquarters on Friday [16 December] the North Atlantic alliance is willing to continue its dialogue with Russia in order to dispe! FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 misunderstanding and cast light upon all issues con- cerning the expansion of NATO and the formation of new European structures. He reminded the journalists that Russia and NATO have prepared documents stipulating partnership and a more comprehensive diaiogue according to the 16 plus one formuta on a wide range of subjects, including coopera- tion in the security sphere. The adoption of the docu- ments was postponed because Russia wanted to have the NATO stand on its eastward exnansion explained. Claes said this stand was made public by the NATO country leaders in January this year and was discussed at the highest level between Russian and NATO state leaders. Following the logic, an internal discussion has begun in NATO on a general concept of the expansion to provide answers to all whys and hows. Sc .lements should be found to many complicated problems. How should extend nuclear guarantees be extended to new members of the alliance? How should decisions be made that can only be unanimous and that are difficult to take even by the current 16 members? How can NATO avoid the situation of the 17th member of NATO vetoing the 18th member and others joining the alliance? There are also many purely military problems, and it seems naive to assume that the issues concerning the formation of the budget will be easy to handle. The concept must be ready in September and all inter- ested parties, including Russia, will be able to study it. It is still premature to say what the NATO Council’s next decision will be. Following the same logic, however, it should answer the questions of whom to admit and wher “Can Russia become a NATO member?” In reply to this question by the ITAR-TASS correspondent, the North Atlantic alliance chief said “the door is open for Russia as well,” but if this issue is ever considered the nature of NATO itself should also be considered. Russia is part of Europe but the major portion of its territory is in Asia. Its admission would completely change the basis of the NATO concept on security. Article 5 of the Washington Treaty with its “nuclear umbrella” is an insurance police against any risks. “I do not want to indulge in fantasies, but when working up the strategy all scenarios should be taken into consideration,” Claes said. ‘“‘China is not our neighbor, but it is yours. What if a conflict occurs in the Far East?” “I would like to emphasize once again our determination not to permit Russia to be isolated, not to permit Yalta to recur, not to divide Europe into ’zones of influence.“ The mistrust resulting from historic causes can somehow be understood, but otherwise the West’s activities over the past five years are a goou proof of our goodwill and our positive approach,” Claes saia. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 NATO Secretary General Comments on ‘Cold Peace,’ Chechnya LD1712220494 Moscow Ostankino Television First Channel Network in Russian 1800 GMT 17 Dec 94 [Interview of NATO Secretary General Willy Claes by Russian Line, Russkaya Liniya, correspondent Umitriy Khavin in Brussels; date not given—recorded; from the “Novosti” newscast] [FBIS Translated Text] [Khavin] Some say that since NATO’s meeting in December with Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev, we have been living in a state of cold peace, as they say. Do you agree with this dramatic assessment of the situation? [Claes] This expression obviously makes an impression, but I do not think this. As I have heard, U.S. Defense Minister Perry is going to Moscow and there may well be a long meeting over the weekend between Foreign Min- ister Kozyrev and the U.S. defense minister. There may aiso be an initiative by NATO that will develop the dialogue between us, and I am sure that we will continue it. [Khavin]} Some analysts believe that NATO’s policy on Russia is determined by the internal situation there. If so, then how might the situation in Chechnya and the political discord in Moscow influence relations between NATO and Russia. [Claes] First, this issue was not discussed by the council or by NATO’s committees, so I am speaking for myself. First of all, we regard it as internal affairs. The Republic of Chechnya has never been recognized by the world community as an independent state. But we are, of course, worried by what is going on there. We very much hope that it will be possible to solve the problem without the use of force and that human rights will be respected. [Khavin}] How do you see relations between NATO and Russia in the future? Do you think Russia will become an equal member of NATO? [Claes] Frankly, I cannot give an answer simply because in the internal discussion we are starting on the issue of NATO’s expansion, we have to answer the question: How is this organization to be expanded? We are not asking who should be asked to join or when. So, if you ask me, for example, if the Czech Republic is to become a member of NATO, I would not be able to answer. And I think this is all part of a normal process. Before inviting one or several countries, you obviously have to deter- mine the conditions, both for us and for the candidate country. So let us formulate the answer to what is, believe me, a very difficult question: How should this be done? After this we will inform all interested partners. In other words, this means Russia will be informed of the conditions for joining. Beyond that, it is the prerogative of the NATO council to give me a mandate to take the next steps. RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Protocol on Joint Conversion Project With U.S. Signed LD1612215094 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 200° GMT 16 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Aleksey Berezhkov] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 16 TASS— A protocol on financing of a Russian-U.S. conversion project was signed here today. The joint venture was formed by the Russian Nauka scientific-production amalgamation and the U.S. Hamilton-Standard firm, a branch of the U.S. United Technologies corporation. Negotiations on over 100 joint conversion projects have been on for a long time, sources at the Russian State Committee for Defence Industries told ITAR-TASS. However, this is the first time money was allocated for a specific project. The joint venture named Hamilton Standard-Nauka is financing by the Corporation of Private Investments Abroad and the Fund for Conversion of Enterprises formed by the U.S. Defence Department. The corpora- tion and the fund signed the protocol together with the venture participants. The ceremony was attended by U.S. Secretary of Defence William Perry who described the project as a perfect example of joint and mutually beneficial efforts of the U.S. and Russia in the conver- sion sphere. The overall cost of the project exceeds 35 million U.S. dollars. The venture will produce systems for civil planes, including air- conditioning installations. Russian scien- tific projects will be used alongside U.S. technological equipment. Russian air-conditioning systems for planes exceed the world class on many parameters and are cheaper than the U.S. and European analogues by 20 per cent. The products will be used in Russian II-96, Tu-204 and Tu-334 planes of new generation. Negotiations with Boeing on possible delivery of the systems are underway. President of the Corporation of Private Investments Abroad Ruth Harkin welcomed the Russian-U:S. project and said she has signed a statement on financing and insurance of investments at an amount of up to 500 million U.S. dollars for conversion projects in Russia and other Commonwealth states within the framework of a recent session of the Russian-U.S. commission for economic and technological cooperation. U.S. Defense Secretary Assures Moscew Will Not Be Isolated MK1712120094 Moscow KOMMERSANT-DAILY in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 1 [Report oy Aleksandr Myrin: “The Pentagon Chief Engages in Peaceful Business”} {FBIS Translated Text] Pentagon chief William Perry, who arrived on the evening of 15 December for a one-day visit to Moscow, was not met by his Russian This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 10 RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS counterpart Pavel Grachev because he was in Chechnya. The program of the visit was somewhat slapdash, and Grachev’s first deputy Andrey Kokoshin stood in for him at the negotiations. This visit by the Pentagon chief is his first contact with the Russian leadership after a cooling-off in relations between Moscow and the West caused by the latest NATO Council session’s decision to expand the bloc at the expense of Eastern Europe, and Andrey Kozyrev’s refusal to sign an individual Russia-NATO partnership program. Incidentally, Kozyrev, who could have substi- tuted for Grachev, just as he recently did during a visit by British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd, was also out of Moscow: He had gone to Murmansk to meet with his constituents. In Moscow, Perry sought to calm the Defense Ministry leadership. In the run-up to the visit he had stated that NATO expansion will proceed slowly; it does not mean isolation of Moscow. Perry not just once repeated this point in his negotiations with Kokoshin. Generally, the Pentagon head put a thrust not on disagreements but collaboration. Nonproliferation and abolition of mass destruction weapons was also broached. In particular Perry and his Russian colleagues discussed the implementation of the 1J.S. program to assist the destruction of Russian nuclear weapons and also matters of joint liquidation of chem- ical and binary weapon stocks. Then Perry visited the Hamilton Standard-Nauka joint venture on Petrovsko-Razumovskiy Lane. Hamilton Standard is a branch of United Technologies, a major U.S. aerospace corporation. Investment in the Russian- U.S. enterprise, which will produce ecological moni- toring systems for Tu-204 and Tu-334 aircraft, will amount to $32 million. The joint veriure will put out its first products in the first quarter of 1995. ~ venga Rejects Bosnian Serb Karadzic’s ‘Peace’ an LD1612143694 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1353 GMT 16 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, Dec 16 (INTER- FAX)}—Moscow has rejected the “peace” plan proposed by Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. “We were disappointed by the idea proposed by Karadzic within the framework of the six-point plan for the settlement of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina,” director of the Russian Foreign Ministry Information Department Grigoriy Karasin told Interfax on Friday [16 December]. Karadzic’s plan envisages the freedom of movement in Bosnia of UN convoys, the release of all UN officials detained by Bosnian Serbs and all Moslem soldiers who are younger than 19 years of age, the immediate cease- fire in Sarajevo and its suburbs, the re-opening of the FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Sarajevo airport, guarantees for human rights obser- vance, as well as certain territorial concessions to the Moslem-Croatian side. Karasin said that Moscow describes Karadzic’s step as “actions which are still aumed at undermining efforts by the Contact Group and as an attempt at separatist deals on the part of the Bosnian Serb leaders, who continue to reject the international peace plan.” Any contacts with Karadzic, he said, can be productive solely within the context of the efforts being taken by the Contact Group and the dialog with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. — on Foreign Ministry Criticism of Karadzic an LD1612155494 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1444 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS diplomatic correspondent] {[FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 16 Dec—Radovan Karadzic’s own initiative for a settlement to the Bosnian crisis has been interpreted at Russia’s foreign political department as an attempt to turn away from the work on implementing the peace plan of the international Con- tact Group, which comprises Russia, the United States, and the countries of the European Union. ““We were verv disappointed with the idea expressed by Radovan Karadzic within the framework of the six-point plan for a settlement to the situation in Bosnia and Herzegov- ina,” Grigoriy Karasin, director of the Department of Information and Press of the Foreign Ministry, told ITAR-TASS. In his opinion, it is a question of actions which continue to be aimed at undermining the efforts of the Contact Group. The Foreign Ministry representative described the Pale initiative as “an attempt at separatist deals by the Bosnian Serb leadership, which continues to reject the Contact Group’s peace plan.” “We believe that any contacts with Radovan Karadzic can be constructive only in the context of the efforts being undertaken by the Contact Group and a dialogue with Slobodan Milosevic,” the head of the department pointed out. Grigoriy Karasin explains the reason that the Bosnian Serbs have come out with this initiative is the fact that “having encountered a negative reaction on the part of world public opinion and having sensed a certain isola- tion, the leadership of the Bosnian Serbs is maneuvering, making promises that we have heard many times before.” “As far as the so-called six-point plan is concerned, its provisions,” the Foreign Ministry representative stressed, “are self-evident and demand strict imple*nen- tation without any conditions. Behind the advancement of this plan there lies, clearly, an attempt to move away from work on the implementation of the Contact Group’s peace plan.” This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. “BIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 ‘Sources’ Cited on Russian Arms Deals With Iraq LD1912110094 London THE INDEPENDENT in English 19 Dec 94 p 10 [Report by Adel Darwish: “Moscow Poised to Rearm Iraqis’’} {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow is ready to resume arms supplies to Iraq once United Nations sanctions have been lifted, according to Russian and Iraqi sources. Last month the Russian Foreign Minister, Andrey Kozyrev, signed a big arms and military-equipment deal with Iraq’s deputy Prime Minister, Tariq ’Aziz. This followed an unpublicised meeting in July between Mr Kozyrev and Mr ’Aziz in St. Petersburg, attended by senior military and intelligence officers, and extensive contacts between the two sides in Switzerland, Austria, Cyprus as well as Iraq and Russia. The Russians are to supply Baghdad with heavy equip- ment to replace armour, air defences and radar systems destroyed during the Gulf war. The deal also includes modernising Iraq’s forces and rebuilding airbases. Groups of Iraqi officers from the Air Defence Corps are to be trained in Russia for work on communications and signal intelligence. Russia was President Saddam Husayn’s main arms supplier following the signing of a friendship treaty in 1971, but in the late 1980s the French began to compete and overtook the Russians in supplying air-defence systems, naval hardware and air- craft. Iraq has agreed to give Russia a “preferential trade status and priority payment” before other suppliers, as well as starting to pay for the new contracts as soon as the UN sanctions are lifted and Iraqi oil sales are allowed again. “This is important,” said one Russian source, “because Russia is now at the top of the list of Iraqi debtors.” More than 20 foreign countries are owed several billion dollars by the Iraqis for projects abandoned after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The Russians signed another multi-million-dollar contract with Baghdad in August to resume oilfield and refinery projects which were interrupted by the sanctions. Arms Sales to China, Kuwait Raise Questions MK1612140994 Moscow NOVAYA YEZHEDNEVNAYA GAZETA in Russian 16 Dec 94 pp 1, 2 [Report by Viktor Yershov in the “Military Secret” column: “Kuwait and China: Brothers in Arms. Russian Arms” } {[FBIS Translated Text] The recent visit by the Chinese defense minister to Russia received little coverage in the mass media. For the most part information about it was rather general and unspecific. RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 11 Meanwhile some fairly intriguing details have filtered through from responsible sources in the Russian Feder- atioi. Defense Ministry. Few will know that Colonel General Khaotyan {as transliterated] was met at the airport by Army Gen. Konstantin Kobets, deputy Rus- sian defense minister; and Col. Gen. Anatoliy Kley- menov, deputy chief of the General Staff. This was clearly a “retaliation” to the Chinese for according Grachev during his latest visit to China a “mid-level” reception. All this obviously suggests that not all is well in relations between the two countries. Military analysts believe that this is due not only to the repercussions of the ’seventies, but also the new moves made by Russia in the military sphere. This primarily relates to the Russian Federation’s joining the NATO Partnership for Peace program, which arouses great concern in China. It is far from accidental that this past spring Col. Gen. Kolesni- kov, General Staff chief, visited Beijing, where the receiving side clearly indicated that it will not feel very “comfortable” having its longest state border (4,000 km) with a neighbor which has allicd with NATO. And that they intend to draw the most serious conclusions from this. It was no accident therefore that the main question at the negotiations between Grachev and Khaotyan was the signing of an intergovernment agreement on preventing military activity. The document provides for averting incidents between the two armies: border crossing by warplanes and battleships, accidental missile launches, and so forth. The Chinese are also concerned over Russia’s plans to build the Svobodnyy-17 cosmodrome a mere 40 km frcm the Chinese-Russian border. The question of the DPRK was also raised. The Chinese minister indicated that his country will not accept any power methods: a direct hint at U.S. pressure on Pyongyang. Because China has not just once, directly and indirectly, expressed solidarity with the North Korean regime in its confrontation with the United States, it was very difficult for Grachev to maneuver on this delicate subject, and so he made vague and inco- herent statements. On the other hand, it was with tremendous interest that the Russian Federation defense minister discussed with his Chinese counterpart the sale of Russian weapons and spare parts to China. This concerned tanks, fighter aircraft, air defense systems, and some types of warships. The Chinese buy Russian weapons willingly because they are cheaper and better than many U.S., German, and British models. At present China’s 3.5-million-strong army is being actively rearmed, and therefore the local arms market is virtually insatiable. On one hand, Russia seeks to gain a foothold on this market, but on the other, according to confidential sources, the Russian Govern- ment is in doubt: Are we not arming such a menacing neighbor to our own detriment? In this situation General Staff analysts are quite puzzled: In the West we are seeking to take refuge under the NATO wing, but in the East we are arming the world’s largest army, which has no sympathies for the North Atlantic bloc. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 12 RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS True, Pavel Sergeyevich [Grachev] trades not only with China. After Kuwaiti Defense Minister Shaykh Ahmad al-Hamid al-Jabir al- Sabah visited Moscow, where he signed a protocol on collaboration in the security sphere with Grachev, a scandal erupted in the emirate parlia- ment. In particular over some shady aspects of the Russian- Kuwaiti deal involvin~ the sale of a large consignment of arms, combat hardware, and various military equipment. The alarm was raised by parliament deputy Nasr als-Sani’a, who had come by information that not everything about the arms transaction was legal. As a result, the parliament decided to hold special hearings on this matter, and the Kuwait defense minister was confronted with a package of rather embarrassing questions, the main one being: Could negotiations on arms procurements be conducted directly with the Rus- sian Federation Defense Ministry and its leadership? At the time, under President Yeltsin’s edict, negotiations could be held only by representatives of the state com- pany Rosvooruzheniye. Another question is the seller’s commission (15 percent). According to information in the deputy’s possession, “other government sources have analogous equipment, but at much cheaper prices: 40 percent below those asked from Kuwait.” Another inter- esting detail: Apparently the equipment has been sitting at the depots of the Warsaw Pact countries, was manu- factured a long time ago, and is inferior to modern state-of-the-art models. Defense Official on Kurils, Ties With Japanese Military LD1612170394 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1608 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By diplomatic correspondents Aleksandr Korzun, Igor Porshnev, Yevgeniy Terekhov, and others] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, Dec 16 (interfax)— Russian servicemen believe that the American-Japanese agreement on defense is obviously aimed against Russia. “Until this orientation is not [as received] changed one can hardly speak about a qualitative improvement of Russian-Japanese relations,” a top ranking official in Russia’s Defense Ministry declared in an interview with Interfax on Friday. In his words, this agreement was directed at the former USSR when it was being created. “‘There is no USSR any more, but this has not affected the contents of the agreement,” the top-ranking serviceman said. He believes that the Japanese military “deviate” from contacts with their Russian colleagues. ‘““‘We propose to the Japanese to organize in 1995 a visit of their military ship in one of Russian ports. We hope that this time Tokyo will give a positive answer,” he said. The expert called the Russian-Japanese consultations to prevent incidents on the sea outside the territorial waters and in the air space above them, which have been held this week in Moscow, “the first signs.” ““There has been FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 no incidents between ships and aircraft during the year which has passed since signing of the corresponding agreement,” he said. Interfax interlocutor made it clear that the matter con- cerns military ships and aircraft of the Russian Federa- tion and Japan. “As far as Japanese fishing schooners are concerned which violate Russia’s state border near the Southern Kuril Islands every now and then, they do not fall under the terms of the agreement which was signed in October 1993 in the course of Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s visit to Tokyo,” he said. According to this top-ranking serviceman, it is impos- sible to resolve the problem of territorial waters’ viola- tion only by coercive measures. “We shall strengthen our border but this problem can be resolved by other means, he said. The Japanese believe that the Southern Kurils are theirs and we—that they are ours. The situation seems to be hopeless at the first sight. We should start real cooperation and then the issue on the belonging of these disputable islands will be solved.” Moscow Confirms Nuclear Power Deal With Czech Republic LD1612190794 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1714 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS diplomatic correspondent Andrey Serov] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 16 TASS— Georgiy Kaurov, head of the department of public relations of the Russian Ministry of Atomic Energy, confirmed to ITAR-TASS the reports which appeared in Western news media that Russia and the Czech Republic had concluded an agreement on cooperation in nuclear power engineering. This representative of the ministry admitted that the document really envisaged deliveries of nuclear fuel to the Czech Republic with its subsequent return to Russia where it would be processed after which released ura- nium, plutonium and so-called “fragments” might be transported to the Czech Republic again. This agreement, Georgi Kaurov stressed, in no way violates the appropriate international rules, including the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Czech Republic undertook that the use of these materials would be controlled by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and they will not be used for the pro- duction of nuclear weapons. The representative of the ministry said that Russia had delivered nuclear fuel to the Czech Republic before and taken it back under the agreement concluded between the former Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak Republic. The return of waste nuclear fuel, uranium, plutonium and “fragments” was envisaged by the document of This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 December 4, Georgiy Kaurov informed, mainly on the insistence of Russian Experts in the field of environ- mental protection. ERBD Grants Credit Line for Export, Import Trade LD1712010794 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1612 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By BUSINESS-TASS] {[FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 16 Dec (BUSINESS- TASS)—A credit line for export and import trade with Russia is to be granted to AvtoVAZbank, the bank’s president Petr Nakhmanovich said after returning from RUSSIA INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 13 the headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruc- tion and Development (EBRD) in London. He stressed that there are ten leading Russian banks taking part in the program, which will gain the right to use guarantees from Western correspondent banks and the EBRD to guarantee letters of credit. Within the t-amework of the program, AvtoVAZbank clients will gain the opportunity to make prepayments for deliveries of imported products of just 20 percent, and not 100 percent, as is currently required. The EBRD leadership believes that AvtoVAZbank should take part in servicing EBRD credits which are granted for the purchase of equipment to AvtoVAZ, KAMAZ and other major enterprises which are AvtoVAZbank clients. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS Political Issues Yeltsin Sets up Chechnya Plenipotentiary LD1912114594 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1141 GMT 19 Dec 94 {FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, Dec 19 (INTER- FAX)}—President Boris Yeltsin has issued a decree on the appointment of his own plenipotentiary to the Republic of Chechnya. The plenipotentiary is described as an official repre- senting the Russian president in Chechnya. He is to be appointed or dismissed by the Russian president and is personally accountable to him. The plenipotentiary is to take part in coordinating activ- ities of the federal and regional governments aimed at normalizing the situation and restoring law and order to the Chechen republic. He is “entitled to take part in the work of executive bodies in the Chechen republic and make proposals on draft acts to the Russian president and federal govern- ment covering the issues of normalization” in that republic and the North Caucasian region as a whole. The decree came into effect from Sunday when it was signed, Yeltsin’s press service said. Vice Premier Nikolay Yegorov now represents the Rus- sian president in Chechnya. Russian Democracy Undergoes ‘Test’ in Chechnya MM1912101594 Moscow IZVESTIYA in Russian 16 Dec 94 p4@ [Article by IZVESTIYA Analysis Center under the gen- eral heading “Lessons of the Chechen Crisis” and the “Express Analysis of the Week” rubric: “Simple Test for Democracy”] [FBIS Translated Text] General Yermolov called the Caucasus an enormous fortress. Prerevolutionary statesman Vasiliy Velichko called it an enormous academy. Present-day Speaker Shumeyko, with Chechnya in mind, called it a cancerous tumor. It appears that military-political surgery by the heirs of Yermolov, Velyaminov, von Kluegenau, and Gurko has overlooked the experience of many centuries of storming the Caucasus fortress, and has approached it ignoring the extensive lessons taught at the Caucasus academy. Events in Chechnya, dubbed the Chechen crisis, have exposed signs of a crisis in Russian statehood. As our more perspicacious ancestors wrote, “the black hole of the Caucasus has taken on a new form, maybe a fateful form, or maybe an ultimately useful one, by exposing the internal ulcers of our life, the infirmities of our spirit, and the mistakes and sins of our policy toward the backwaters.” FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 It feels somehow shameful to even talk about useful- ness—because of the blood that has been shed. Never- theless, in the interests of the future, some kind of lessons must be drawn from the events of the past week. First Lesson: Chronological When planning the “introduction of servicemen” in a particular region of the Federation, the calendar should be consulted. Any day of the week is fine for launching an expedition, but the eve of a national holiday deserves preference. The president’s Press Secretary Vyacheslav Kostikov noted that there is .>ither a “war party” nora “peace party” in the Kremlin, there is only the “party of the Constitution.” Therefore, the “party of the Consti- tution” chose the introduction of troops into Chechnya as the best out of the multitude of methods for marking this red letter day in the calendar [Constitution Day, 12 December]. Second Lesson: Ethnological When planning a trip to the Caucasus, it is useful to consult experts on the Caucasus. In order to avoid possible misunderstandings as regards hasty statements on the ethnic mentality of the “adversary.”” For example, his favorite habit of building a protective wall using women, the elderly, and children. “Phenomena of life and human nature in the Caucasus,” a certain Caucasus expert from the last century wrote, “are extremely vivid. They are of particular value to representatives of the science of statecraft, so little prevalent—alas!—even in our ruling classes, for whom it is high time to tackle their own duties more conscien- tiously....” Third Lesson: Informational “The operation to blockade Groznyy” is not “Desert Storm,” but it is not a storm in a teacup either. It is entirely capable of shaking the foundations of the Rus- sian state. No matter what you call it, the “‘small victo- rious war” in the Caucasus needed a small victorious verbal campaign. In which those who are supposed to be in charge would speak, and speak in a coordinated, rather than discordant, way. In our case we do not know who is in charge, but ~e can hear who is doing the deed. But again, it is unclear whether they are in charge. For post-surgery reasons, the president has restricted himself to written statements. The premier was silent for three days, and when he did open his mouth, it was frightening. He was plain terrifying. The gathering of aides relaying the president’s opinion was not complete, but those who were there were completely at odds. Mythical analysts from various press services shuffled their personal suppositions. The Security Council is silent. The unified state position—which may turn out not to exist at all—has been buried under the splinters and fragments of “information-analytical and propa- ganda backup.” There are the individual opinions of individual leaders of individual departments. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 As always, it is the truth that is dying first in this war too. Journalists (with the exception of the committed ones) have been deprived of the professional privilege of drawing information from primary sources, but on the other hand they have acquired the privilege of obtain:g socks on the jaw, punches, and severe injuries from the tank trail-blazers. Fourth Lesson: Domestic The “‘Chechen crisis” has reshuffled the Russian polit ical pack in a most intricate way. Who could have imagined that Gaydar and Ampilov would be on one side of the political barricades, and Fedorov and Zhiri- novskiy on the other? This unexpected and sometimes apathetic drift of positions shows that the crisis is something more than an attempt to settle a particular problem in one corner of our vast Russia. Analyzing the positions of political parties and State Duma factions, it can be noted that those who are fundamental opponents of the reform process and will definitely be running against B. Yeltsin in the upcoming presidential elections were the people who expressed approval for the actions in Chechnya. And condemna- tion came from those who have more or less supported the government’s line and were ready to support the president in his attempt (if such an attempt were to follow) to run for a second term. If we move away from the geopolitical, ethnic, economic, legalistic, criminal, and other aspects of the Chechen problem, then the following model takes shape: The executive has undertaken actions which are to a great extent capable of influencing the life of the entire country. But we should not ignore the question: What is society’s degree of influence on the adoption of such decisions? In other words, Chechnya has become a touchstone for the maturity of the state’s democratic institutions. Just like Chernobyl in the past served as a touchstone for glasnost and the informational openness of society. The test at that time produced a negative result. What will the Chechnya test show? The generally accepted pattern is known: The executive adopts serious decisions in agreement with the people. When tested, this proved to be a myth. The decision to send troops in was adopted without any coordination with the legislature. In other words, it turned out that our executive power has the potential to carry out actions with far-reaching consequences without these actions being approved by the country’s population via their representatives in the Federal Assembly. It is accepted to believe that political structures express the opinion of the people. In our current conditions it is impossible to clearly assess the reliability of this thesis, since the process of the formation of the positions of political forces in respect of the events taking place in Chechnya is not yet finished. Take as example the RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 15 evolution of the position of Russia’s Democratic Choice party which, following an initial very painful reaction (accompanied by rallies and demands for the impeach- ment of the president) found itself on the brink of a split (compare the statements of the chairmen of the party’s Political Council and Executive Committee) but then managed to elaborate a more moderate compromise: decision. An analysis of the positions of State Duma parties and factions shows that considerations which are far removed from a quest for less painful methods of unrav- eling the “Chechen knot” are exerting considerable in‘lu- ence on their formation. An example is offered by the position of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, which has to all intents and purposes granted an indul- gence for any actions by the executive. The feedback operating in democratic society—the opinion of citizens expressed in the positions of political parties, public movements, and representatives of the people—should have an influence on the actions of the authorities The question of the reliability of this thesis in Russian conditions also remains open—the president has instructed the Federal Assembly to express its opinion, the assembly has done so, but the tank columns have continued to advance. Chernomyrdin Leads Kremlin Meeting LD1912103494 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1900 GMT 19 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 19 ITAR- TASS—Members of the Russian Cabinet of Ministers and of president’s Security Council and administration are conferring in the Kremlin with Prime Minister Victor Chernomyrdin to review approaches to the settle- ment in and around Chechnya where an extremely tense impasse has taken shape after Chechen leader Dudayev rejected yet another goodwill gesture of President Yeltsin’s. The present situation is seen in Moscow as fraught with very grave consequences. On Sunday, Yeltsin proposed in a telegram to Dudayev that the latter meet “without delay” Russian Vice- Premier Nikolay Yegorov and Federal Counterintelli- gence Chief Sergey Stepashin in Mozdok in order to sign on the same day a document on ceasefire and on turning in all weapons. Moscow also sent out to Dudayev other signals of peaceful nature. Thus the Russian president’s Chief of Staff Sergey Filatov told a press conference in Moscow on Sunday afternoon that “if Dudayev gives a non- nonsense order to his supporters to lay down arms immediately, the settlement of the Chechen crisis will again return to a peaceful path”. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 16 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS However, by the end of Sunday, Dudayev had sent the Russian president a message stating only that he was “ready to receive in Groznyy an authorised representa- tive of the Russian president”. The Chechen leader then said at a press conference that the Chechen people “will not allow him to meet Yegorov (Russia’s nationalities minister) or anyone else (of that rank)”. Russia’s First Vice-Premier Oleg Soskovets told the Russian government’s operational headquarters on Sunday that “no attempts at starting actual talks can be traced on Dudayev’s part’. According to Soskovets, Groznyy was trying “to procrastinate in any possible way in the hope to win time for consolidating its supporter both in and outside Chechnya”. All this makes clear that Chechen leader Dzhokhar Dudayev appear to have actually “‘burnt down all bridges” on the way leading towards negotiations and the settlement of the conflict in the republic by peaceful means and opted for armed resistance to Moscow’s actions aiming to restore constitutional law and order in the Chechen republic. In this context, a spokesman for the president told ITAR-TASS that “there will be no more replies to Dzhokhar Dudayev’s telegrams”. The Sunday night and the early hours of Monday saw no large- scale military action in Groznyy or Chechnya as a whole. The TASS correspondent in Groznyy, Russian planes flew over Groznyy at 02.00 [as received] and dealt an airstrike at some targets. The explosions were clearly audible in central Groznyy and window glass was shat- tered in residential buildings close to where the ITAR- TASS bureau is located. ITAR-TASS has information that two missiles exploded in the city area where the houses of Dzhokhar Dudayev and his relatives are situ- ated. There was no immediate report about casualties. While the Russian leaders are debating Moscow’s further moves with relation to Chechnya, opinions in the country and beyond differ vastly. It is difficult to state with certainty which way the political barometer is pointing, but it is clear that despite the danger of grave consequences from a forcible solution to the conflict in Chechnya, many people are in favour of the use of force in this case. The council of atamans (chieftains) of the union of Cossacks of Russia, in particular, has called on the Russian leadership to solve the Chechen crisis by forceful means and proposed that the Cossack military formations be used for the purpose. “‘We demand that force be used in full measure against Dudayev’s bandit forces,” the union of Cossacks of Russia said in a statement addressed to President Boris Yeltsin and received by ITAR-TASS on Sunday. The statement is signed by the head of the union of Cossacks Alesandr Martynov and nine leaders of the regional Cossack formations in the Northern Caucasus. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Russia must protect its state interests in Chechnya and its territorial integrity, Georgian leader Eduard Shevard- nadze said in his speech at the repubiican conference of state security officers on Sunday. According to Shevardnadze, should Russia fail to curb Chechnya’s aggressive separatism, a process of disinte- gration of the Russian state might begin, which will affect the development of events in the whole world. Filatov Sees Possibility for Talks LD1812183194 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1711 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, Dec 18 (Interfax)— The chief of staff of the Russian president Sergey Filatov believes that the talks with Dzhokhar Dudayev are possible, if the Chechen leader orders that his supporters surrender fire arms. Addressing in Moscow on Sunday a briefing, Filatov said that now on the agenda are not negotiations, but the disarmament of illegal armed for- mations in Chechnya. Filatov said that the Dudayev regime is attempting to replace disarmament by the talks, and these are different things. He said that throughout Saturday Dudayev three times ignored invitations to arrive for the talks in Mozdok, while his telegram to Boris Yeltsin about his prepared- ness for the talks delayed for several hours operations to disarm illegal units after the deadline of the president's ultimatum expired. Groznyy’s preparedness for the talks “is not confirmed by ceasefire”. Groznyy did not fulfil the promise to withdraw the armed detachments for one kilometer. As a result “our people were trapped and sustained losses”. Answering the question put by Interfax, Filatov said that the Russian president “staying in hospital, keeps the situation in control”. He said that doctors recommended that Yeltsin stay in hospital to continue medical treat- ment and the recent meeting of the Security Council was held there. Speaking about hostilities in Chechnya, Filatov said that “those are not war, those are military operations”. He said that operations of the Russian army and interior forces in Chechnya are “a special type of operations”, during which “militants are forced to surrender fire arms and military technology” and no harm is being dealt to the civilian population. Fle said that the federal author- ities have no experience tc conduct “such kind of special operations”. Answering the question on how effective Russian special services oppose the penetration to Chechnya of “mili- tants” from other states, Filatov said: ““Bad opposition, we have no successes in this sphere”’. He said that the morale of the troops deployed in Chechnya is “normal”. “It changes the way as the sentiments change within society as a whole”, said This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Filatov. He said that “while in the first few days fol- lowing the deployment of the Russian troops in Chech- nya, one letter out of five to the president’s administra- tion expressed support for the decision, now every second letter approves actions of the Russian leader- ship.” Poll Shows Majority Opposes Use of Force LD1812203294 Moscow Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy in Russian 2000 GMT 18 Dec 94 {FBIS Translated Text] The majority of Russia’s resi- dents—over 67 percent—are against the Chechen con- flict being resolved by military means, according to a poll carried out by the Public Opinion sociological service. Cossacks Call For Force, Offer Help LD1812164894 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1622 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 18 TASS— Russian Cossack leaders urged the government to resolve the Chechen crisis by force and offered their help. “‘We demand that force be used in full against (Chechen President Dzhokhar) Dudayev’s illegal armed bands,” a statement adopted by the union of Russian cossacks on Sunday [18 December] said. The statement, signed by Cossacks’s Union leader Aleksandr Martynov and the leaders of nine regional Cossack divisions, was sent to President Boris Yeltsin. The Cossack leaders suggest setting up three battalions of Terek Cossacks to ensure, in cooperation with Russian law enforcement bodies, “constitutional order, guard economic facilities, fight illegal armed groups and destroy them.” The Cossacks’ Union supports the decisions with regard to Chechnya adopted by the president and government and confirms that “the Cossacks are ready to act as the guardians of peace and constitutional order in the North Caucasus,” the statement said. Trade Unions on ‘Enforced’ Order MK1712091094 Moscow SEGODNYA in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 2 [Report by Andrey Nikolayev in the “Claims” column: “Trade Union Boss Hopes for Russia’s ‘Key Force.’ The Leader of National Associations Presses for Constitu- tional Order’’] [FBIS Translated Text] The National Labor Party (NLP) and the National Associations of Russian Trade Unions (NARTU) have come out with a joint statement on events in the North Caucasus which says that in Chech- nya, just like on the whole of Russia’s territory, “consti- tutional order” must be restored. RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 17 NLP and NARTU Chairman Aleksandr Alckseyev in a conversation with SEGODNYA’s correspondent stressed that, in the opinion of his party and trade union, peace and stability in Chechnya, as well as the security of i*s residents, shou!d have been enforced from the very start of the “Dudayev putsch.” Especially considering that the sharp deterioration in the socioeconomic situa- tion of Russia’s entire population has already created in many regions the illusion of “separate survival” and brought forth not only the Chechen problem but also the Volgograd and Sverdlovsk constitutions. Inaction by Russian authorities, their effeciive “aiding and abetting” in the Chechen conflict, according to Alekseyev, only provided fertile ground for a consolidation of crime ethnic groupings, untying their hands to spread terror, looting, and murder. Now, when hostilities are under way in Chechnya, in the course of which “Russian and Chechen boys are giving their lives,” Alekseyev said, the Kremlin is simply obliged to ensure to all citizens of Russia their “natural rights” and guarantee their “security, labor activity, and wellbeing.” Further, the NLP and NARTU leader believes, that “key Russian force” should appear which has created our great power and welded together its tribes and clans into a great and multiethnic nation. Dudayev Seen ‘Likely’ To Agree to Talks LD1812143294 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1424 GMT 18 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Groznyy December 18 TASS— Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev is likely to accept Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s offer to meet his representatives for talks “without delay.” “Most likely the answer will be positive,” a well- informed source in Dudayev’s administration told ITAR-TASS on Sunday. He said the Chechen Government is composing a reply to Yeltsin’s telegram which Groznyy had received by 16:00 [1300 GMT] Moscow time Sunday. In it, the Russian leader urged Dudayev to meet “with- out delay” with his representatives Vice-Prime Minister Nikolay Yegorov and Counterintelligence Chief Sergey Stepashin in Mozdok today. Dudayev is expected to hold a news conference at 18:00 to speak about the situation in the republic and his further moves to settle the conflict. Duma Proposes New Peace Plan LD1812140294 Moscow Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy in Russian 1300 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] Another plan for political settle- ment of the conflict in Chechnya has been drawn up by This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 18 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS the State Duma. Grigoriy Yavlinskiy, the leader of the Yabloko bloc, told our radio station that the plan envi- sions forming a plenipotentiary delegation on the basis of federal law, which would represent the state in the process of resolving the crisis. Yavlinskiy said it would be a kind of combination executive and legislative body. The plan suggests that all armed forces in the conflict zone should abide by the decisions of that delegation. According to Yavlinskiy, a person previously uninvolved in the events should be put in charge of the delegation. Deputies are going to nominate the president [words indistinct] Aushev for this post. Yavlinskiy hopes that this bill would be adopted at the next sitting of the Council of the State Duma. Official Denies Bombing Reports LD1812132494 Moscow Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy in Russian 1200 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Excerpt] Russia’s Air Force carried out missile and bombing strikes against positions of Dudayev’s supporters in Groznyy’s suburbs. [passage omitted] However, in an interview with our radio station, Mov- ladi Udugov, head of Chechnya’s press and information department, denied the report on the bombings. He said that Russian helicopters are only firing on two settle- ments [words indistinct] which are located far from Groznyy, and that this happened during the night. Udugov said Groznyy only learned from mass media reports of Boris Yeltsin’s proposal to the Chechen pres- ident that he should go to Mozdok for talks. Yeltsin Sends Telegram to Dudayev LD1812121894 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1201 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 18 TASS— The press service of the Russian president has made available to ITAR-TASS on Sunday the following tele- gramme by Boris Yeltsin to Dzhokhar Dudayev: “I have received your telegramme about you consent to negotiations without any pre-conditions. “I suggest that, without delay, you meet with my pleni- potentiary representative, Vice-Premier Nikolay Yegorov, and Sergey Stepashin, member of the Security Council and director of the Federal Counterintelligence Service, in Mozdok. “If an appropriate document on a ceasefire is signed on Sunday with your personal participation, I shall view that as an evidence of serious intentions to normalise the situation, to restore peace and tranquility in the Chechen Republic for the good of all the peoples of Russia.” Deputies Protest Killing of Ingush Civilians LD1812100494 Moscow Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy in Russian 0900 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] Last night Russian servicemen killed nine residents of Ingushetia, among them four FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 women. Russian State Duma deputies are reporting about this from the Ingush capital of Nazran. According to their information, combat vehicles belonging to Rus- sian assault troops opened fire in the Cossack village of Nesterovskaya. INTERFAX received confirmation of this from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ingushetia. The Russian deputies sent a message from Nazran addressed to Yeltsin, Chernomyrdin, Shumeyko, and Rybkin, reporting this crime against the civilian popula- tion of Ingushetia and refugees from Chechnya. The members of parliament intend to meet Deputy Premier Nikolay Yegorov in Mozdok today, who is instructed by Yeltsin’s edict to lead the territorial directorate of the federal bodies of executive power in the Chechen Republic. They will try to exert influence on decisions on further operations by Russian troops in Chechnya. Yeltsin, Security Council on 17 Dec Deadline LD1712095394 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 0935 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent] {[FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 17 Dec—A meeting today of Russia’s Security Council discussed questions linked to the situation in the Chechen Republic as well as the situation in the North Caucasus region. The meeting was chaired by Russian President Boris Yeltsin and lasted three hours. According to the government press service, a Security Council decision says that “‘at 0000 on 17-18 December {2100 GMT on 17 December] the deadline for the voluntary surrender of weapons and the amnesty expires. The civilian population is ordered to leave areas where illegal armed formations are located in order to avoid casualties.” The announcement indicates: “Since the possibility of peacefully conducting the process of disarming the illegal combat formations has not yet been lost, the president has instructed Nikolay Yegorov, the Russian Federa- tion’s plenipotentiary representative in the Chechen Republic, and Federal Counterintelligence Service Director Sergey Stepashin to invite [Chechen President] Dudayev to Mozdok today to work out a procedure for the voluntary surrender of weapons and combat equip- ment.” Zhirinovskiy Sees Events as U.S. ‘Plan’ LD1712154694 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1454 GMT 17 Dec 94 {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, December 17 (INTERFAX)—Events in Chechnya are “part of a plan, unanimously adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1959 to dismember USSR,” Vladimir Zhirinovskiy, leader of the LDP [Liberal Democratic Party] faction in the State Duma has deciared. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Speaking in parliament Friday, he argued that “if the destruction of the USSR started with the Baltic region, now, the destruction of the Russian is going from Cau- casus.” By this plan, Zhirinovskiy alleged, “instead of Russia, a confederation of nations, headed by Mikhail (Sorbachev with Gavriil Popov as government premier, ‘patriot’ General Lebed as defence minister, and others, will soon appear.” Zhirinovskiy voiced puzzlement over the U.S. Vice President Albert Gore’s visit to Russia and over the fact that, as he put it, “the sick President Boris Yeltsin received him, and does not receive us.” “The American administration has in recent time been applying the tactics of tete-a-tete mevtings with Russians politicians and politicians of other Commonwealth countries,” he contended, recalling that “after meetings with the Americans Gorbachev began to surrender the USSR, and after a meeting with Shevardnadze, the continental shelf and part of the Bering Sea were sold.” He predicted that “soon, Russia will be dismembered into separate territories, and what happened before 1991 will be repeated.” Government Promises ‘Humane’ Use of Force LD1712211094 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 2039 GMT 17 Dec 94 {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, 17 Dec (Itar- Tass)}—This evening the press service of the Govern- ment of the Russian Federation released the following report: “In connection with the possible use of force to imple- ment the set tasks of restoring legality and law and order and ensuring basic human rights and liberties on the territory of the Chechen Republic as a component part of the Russian Federation, it is hereby announced that force will be employed with due consideration of the principle of humaneness. “All possible measures are being taken and will be taken to ensure that there are no casualties among the peaceful population, but force will be used against those who put up armed resistance to the legitimate demands of the authorities. “Everything possible is being done and will be done to warn peaceful citizens of possible measures of force and to guarantee their departure from territories adjacent to facilities against which force will evidently be used. “Persons who do not submit to the demands of the authorities and who put up armed resistance to them, should ensure the evacuation of the peaceful population - of women, old people, children and of all who are not involved in their actions. “Unless that is done, those who do not fulfill this generally accepted humane demand will be regarded as RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 19 persons who have committed a serious deed against the peaceful population and will bear the fitting responsi- bility. “Those who shield their illegal actions behind the lives of the peaceful citizens of the Chechen Republic are increasing their guilt manifold - under the law and their own conscience.” Federation Council Adopts Chechnya Resolution LD1712185694 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1551 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Lyudmila Aleksan- drova] [FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 17 Dec—The Federa- tion Council has proposed that Boris Yeltsin should take measures to put an immediate end to combat operations by all sides and continue the process of government delegations’ talks at a higher level, proceeding from the principles of preserving the integrity of the Russian Federation and of granting the opportunity for the free expression of the will of the people of the Chechen Republic. The deputies proposed that the Russian pres- ident should address them on the issue of settling the situation in Chechnya. These proposals were set out in the resolution of the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, which adopted the final version of the resolution “On the situation in the Chechen Republic” at today’s evening sitting. The Federation Council also decreed in accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation that all warring sides of the Chechen Republic should disarm immediately all illegal military formations and cease any provocative actions. The document, approved after a number of substantial amendments were introduced to the text, which was adopted earlier as a basis for further discussion, assesses the situation that has evolved in the Chechen Republic since the adoption of the resolution of the Federation Council of 8 December 1994 “On the situation in the Chechen Republic” and also the appeal by the Russian president to Federal Assembly deputies. The resolution notes that the Russian president and government are taking measures to normalize the situa- tion in the Chechen Republic and around it, including those regulating the activity of the federal bodies of state power to defend the territorial integrity and security of the Russian Federation and the rights and freedoms of citizens. At the same time, no real progress has been achieved yet in resolving the crisis. The Federation Council drew attention to the fact that the Russian president and government did not take into account in good time a number of recommendations set forth in the resolution of the Federation Council of 8 This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 20 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS December 1994, in particular, clause number 2 on the non-use of force on the territory of the Chechen Republic until the adoption, in accordance with the Russian Constitution, of another resolution by competent bodies. The deputies supported the proposal by the Russian president on setting up a supervision commission [nablyudatelnyy sovet] for monitoring the observation of the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens while the resolutions on restoring constitutional order on the territory of the Chechen Republic are being imple- mented. It has been decided to include in this commis- sion 12 representatives of the Federation Council, among whom are two deputy chairmen of the upper chamber—Ramazan Abdulatipov and Anatoliy Dogo- laptev. The chamber instructed the appropriate committees to draw up proposals to regulate by law the use of Russian Armed Forces on the territory of the Russian Federation. Foreign Ministry Issues Statement on Events LD1712144294 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1400 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS diplomatic correspondent] [FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 17 Dec—ITAR-TASS today received a statement from the spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding the latest events in the Chechen Republic. The statement says: “The Dudayev regime has failed to use the opportunities that have been repeatedly provided to it to find a peaceful way out of the crisis. Thus, the opportunity to use political methods—and, above all, talks—which the Russian leadership has been consistently advocating, has been lost. “Attacks on Russian servicemen and the Interior Min- istry employees continue, and civilians are being killed in Chechnya. The only purpose of a meeting between representatives of the Russian authorities and Dudayev will now be to determine the p.ocedures for surrendering arms and stopping resistance. “After the deadline given by the Russian president expires at 0000 hours on 18 December [2100 GMT 17 December], units of the Interior and Defense Ministries of the Russian Federation will have to take resolute measures, using all the means at their disposal, to restore constitutional legality and law and order on the territory of the Chechen Republic. Bandit formations will be disarmed and, if they show resistance, eliminated. “The Chechen civilian population has been informed about the necessity to urgently complete the withdrawal from the town of Groznyy and other populated areas where bandit formations are located. The Russian authorities are organizing an evacuation of civilians. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 They are providing medical assistance and accommoda- tion for refugees, and food and other vital supplies to them. “The personal safety of foreign citizens, journalists, in the conflict zone is causing serious concern. We insis- tently recommend that all of them leave the town of Groznyy and move to safe areas. “Not a single state would tolerate attempts to violate its territorial integrity by a threat of armed extremism. We are satisfied with the understanding the world commu- nity has demonstrated of the actions being taken by the Russian leadership aimed at normalizing the situation in the Chechen Republic, an integral part of the Russian Federation.” Government on ‘Keeping Tabs’ on Moscow Visitors MK1712123094 Moscow SEGODNYA in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 1 [Unattributed report: “Introduction of Visa Rule Con- templated for Moscow”} [FBIS Translated Text] The Russian Government passed a decision 15 December on keeping closer tabs on citizens from other places who come to Moscow and on possible introduction of visa arrangements in the capital. This measure, to all appearances, has been called for by the now more frequent threats of terrorist action in connection with the developments in Chechnya. Yes- terday, this news was confirmed to SEGODNYA corre- spondents at the Russian Federation Foreign Ministry. A Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that at the moment the Foreign Ministry has been tasked only with designing a corresponding set of measures; it is yet unknown how the government’s decision is going to be put into effect. Presidentia! Aide: No State of Emergency LD1612182094 Moscow Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy in Russian 1600 GMT 16 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] In spite of the latest events in Chechnya, nobody is going to introduce a state of emergency there, moreover, to set up a provisional administration, Vyacheslav Volkov, deputy head of the presidential administration, said today. In his words, only parallel power structures, capable of restoring order in the republic, c’vuld be under discussion in Chechnya. The draft for setting up a territorial direc- torate in the Chechen Republic [words indistinct] (?under the administration) of the president and the Russian Government. Even if there is an enclave in Groznyy itself that will not subordinate to the decisions of this territorial directorate, it will be Dudayev’s problem, Volkov said. The deputy head of the presidential administration expressed the wish that a respected Chechen should be at the head of the territorial directorate. At the same time This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 he did not name the candidate [words indistinct] for the post. All appointments at the territorial directorate should be done at Russian Government level after pre- sentations by the territorial directorate. The main objec- tive of the directorate is to create the conditions for free elections in Chechnya. In Volkov’s words, the presidential edict on setting up a territorial power body in Chechnya could be expected in the next 48 hours. Foreign Ministry Warns Against Chechnya Travel LD1612164694 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1608 GMT 16 Dec 94 [From the “Diplomatic Panorama” feature] {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, Dec 16 (Interfax)— Nikita Matkovskiy, a Russian Foreign Ministry official, told Interfax Friday that his ministry had sent a note to all diplomatic missions accredited in Moscow asking them to inform citizens of their countries that they should refrain from visiting Chechnya where tension continues to build. The note says that Russia cannot protect the safety or rights of foreign citizens in Chechnya. According to Matkovskiy, the ministry asked the diplo- matic missions to take steps so that their citizens, in particular businessmen, journalists and others who do not have a legal basis to siay there leave Chechnya as soon as possible. He added that the missions have the right to seek the ministry’s assistance. Matkovskiy said that the Foreign Ministry had reminded the diplomatic missions that foreign citizens are restricted from entering into the republics of Northern Ossetia and Ingushetia, which are under emergency rule. Dudayev on ‘Second Afghanistan,’ ‘Kamikazaes’ AUI1612124494 Vienna NEWS in German 15 Dec 94 p 41 [Interview with Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev by an unidentified NEWS correspondent; place and date not given: “Russia Will Live to See a Second Afghani- stan!”’} [FBIS Translated Text] [NEWS] Can the Russian troops be stopped? [Dudayev] Russia will live to see a second Afghanistan. Our roads are booby-trapped with mines. We have guns and highly motivated fighters. [NEWS] Opponents accuse you of having led Chechnya to ruin. {[Dudayev] My republic has always been stable and governable. Our national economy, too, was on the way up according to plan. Only the air raids by the Russian RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 21 Army have frightened our people. The chaos is artificial; it has been brought about by Yeltsin, deliberately and by force. [NEWS] Is that why you have formed the kamikaze units? {[Dudayev] What else should I have done? We have no choice but to defend ourselves. Independence is not negotiable. In contrast to Moscow, we do not have any weapons, no military technology, no military-industrial complex. We Chechens have always had to rely on ourselves. Therefore, I have ordered the formation of suicide commandos for special tasks. [NEWS] How do you see the immediate future? [Dudayev] I fear the worst. Moscow is strangling us. But we will defend ourselves. Armor Deploys to Moscow Exits LD1812203194 Moscow Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy in Russian 2000 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] Armored equipment has been deployed on all exits from Moscow. A member of staff of the press service of the Defense Ministry has told us that this was prompted by the need to step up the patrolling of Moscow’s vital sites. Vehicles To Guard Until 26 Dec LD1912102994 Moscow Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy in Russian 0800 GMT 19 Dec 94 {[FBIS Translated Text] Armored vehicles have been placed at some of Moscow’s exits and in the city itself. Here is a report by our correspondent Vladimir Varfo- lomeyev: [Varfolomeyev] A night-time journey on the Ring Road around Moscow and the highways crossing it confirmed the reports already in about armored vehicles being on the streets of Moscow. There are APC’s [armored per- sonnel carriers] on duty at practically all the entries to the city now, and in some places there are two vehicles— for instance on Kashirskoye highway—and in others just one, such as on Volgogradskiy Avenue. Moreover, there are APC’s to be seen on the Ring Road itself. They look lifeless as you pass them by but that is not the case. Inside the APC’s, the off-duty watch are keeping warm round the stove while the men on duty are going along the road carrying automatic weapons and wearing belts full of cartridges stopping suspect motor vehicles. I managed to find out that these servicemen belong to the regular Russian Army. It was thought at first that they were interior troops. There are many officer cadets among the soldiers, including from the motor vehicle institute in Balashikha. Some of the patrols say they were ordered to patrol with armored vehicles until 26 December. The press service of the Ministry of Defense told us that the APC’s were This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 22 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS brought into Moscow to step up the guarding of its vital fecilities. The capital’s thermal electric power stations, which are working at full capacity during these frosty days, are among them. [Announcer] I will add that a regular combat round was discovered yesterday in the vicinity of Rublevskoye higt vay and, moreover, four groups of Chechens were detained recently in Moscow for keeping arms illegally. Staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Counterintelligence Service maintain that the activities of criminal Chechen groupings are being monitored {kontrolirovat] by law enforcement bodies. Moscow Officials Detain Armed Chechens LD1812130094 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1239 GMT 18 Dec 94 {By ITAR-TASS correspondent Oleg Velichko] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 18 TASS— Four groups of Chechens were detained in Moscow on Saturday for illegal possession of weapons and 24 anon- ymous phoney bomb scares were received, it was announced on Sunday at a meeting of the Russian Government headquarters dealing with the Chechen crisis. It was also stressed that Russian police and counterin- telligence officers keep a constant eye on suspected Chechen crime leaders. Soskovets Urges Measures Against ‘Terrorism’ LDI1612145894 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1445 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Gennadiy Yezhov] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 16 TASS— First Vice- Premier Oleg Soskovets instructed the Rus- sian competent bodies today to “circulate daily informa- tion on the current situation due to the threat of possible terrorist acts on the part of Dudayev militants”. In his opinion, this will help “civilians and staffers of facilities that may become the target of terrorists”. The pronouncement was made at a meeting of the Russian Government’s headquarters for Chechen problems. According to the reports of the Interior Ministry and the Federal Counter-Intelligence Service, the potential threat of terrorist acts exists primarily to thermo- and energy-supplying facilities as well as nuclear power plants. They said that three armed persons recently penetrated into the hydraulic scheme of the Ryazan hydro- power plant. Representatives of the Moscow interior department said they have identified the anonymous person who reported alleged bombs in the metro over the telephone. None of these reports was confirmed. The person FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 appeared to be a psychically-unstable resident of Voron- ezh. He has been taken to mental hospital for an exam- ination. Filatov Condemns Antipress Actions LD1712191194 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1838 GMT 17 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 17—Sergey Filatov, head of the Russian president’s administration, has condemned presidential security service officials’ actions with respect to an ITAR-TASS journalist on Saturday, describing them as a violation of the journal- ist’s rights. Fiiatov urged Mikhail Barsukov, chief of the Russian sécurity service department, and Sergey Nosovets, head of the centre of operational information of the Russian president administration, to investigate the incident. The incident occurred earlier today when the Russian president’s security service refused to let ITAR-TASS observer Tamara Zamyatina in the Kremlin cover a session of the presidential public chamber. The security service also confiscated her pass to the Kremlin, which expires on December 31, 1994. The move followed Zamyatina’s critical publications concerning the incident near the Moscow mayor's office on December 2 that involved the presidential security service. Her articles and interviews were carried by the newspaper IZVESTIYA, the independent television company NTV and the Mayak and Ekho Moskvy radio stations. Filatov stressed that the “session of the public chamber was open and was held by the Russian president’s order.” “should you :cfuse to expl. :n the reasons for violating the rights of the ITAR-TASS observer, I will have to initiate an in-house investigation,” Filatov said. Authorities Warn Journalists of ‘Risk’ AUI1612150694 Paris AFP in English 1433 GMT 16 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Excerpt] Moscow, Dec 16 (AFP)— Russian authorities warned journalists Friday that they were staying in the Chechnya capital Groznyy at their own risk, and refused to deliver fresh accreditations for covering the conflict in the troubled breakaway republic. Several Western media organisations, who received warnings from Russian military sources saying that journalists would be a target in the event of an offensive on the Chechnya capital, decided to withdraw photogra- phers from Groznyy on Saturday. Defence Ministry spokesman Vladimir Nikiforov told AFP that “the situation in Chechnya is somewhat com- parable to the Gulf War, and at that time journalists could not travel freely in combat zones either.” This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 The Moscow information centre dealing with Chechnya meanwhile announced that accreditations were being “temporarily” suspended, and refused further comment. [passage omitted] Russia’s Choice Criticizes Zhirinovskiy Decision LD1612165794 Moscow ITAR-TASS in &nglish 1623 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS parliamentary correspondent Ivan Novikov] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 16 TASS— The Choice of Russia faction made a statement here today to comment on the Duma’s refusal to approve of criminal responsibility of Liberal- Democratic leader Vladimir Zhirinovskiy on December 15. “The Duma did not even analyze the accusation brought against the Liberal-Democratic leader. It substantiated the refusal with purely for™l reasons: a representation on responsibility of a deputy must be signed by the procurator general and not the acting procurator gen- eral,”’ says the statement. The faction considers it inadmissible to use different standards for average Russian people and citizens who happened to become Duma deputies. It notes that the acting procurator general sanctions the arrest of any Russian citizen in case there are enough grounds to do this. He also gives obligatory instructions for all proceed- ings of the procurator’s office. “The jurisdiction of the acting Russian procurator general is invalid for only one citizen of the Russian Federation because of support of a number of Duma deputies,” says the statement. “This is not the first time deputies discredit the State Duma and undermine state power with their indecent behavior while claiming they stand for consolidation of the Russian state,” notes the document. The procurator general’s office revealed the formal ele- ment of a crime definition in some provisions of Zhiri- novskiy’s book “The Last Leap to the South”. Vasilyev Becomes Chubays New Deputy MK1712124094 Moscow KOMMERSANT-DAILY in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 2 [Report by Leonid Brodskiy: “The First Vice Premier Has Received Apparatus Support”’] [FBIS Translated Text] Viktor Chernomyrdin’s consent to approve Dmitriy Vasilyev as deputy chairman of the Federal Commission on Securities and the Stock Market is a routine event owing to its predictability. To analyze the real lineup of “‘economic forces” in the White house, however, it is more interesting to consider two govern- ment decrees issued yesterday: ““On the Federal Com- mission on Securities and the Stock Market of the Russian Federation” and “On the Government Com- mission on Financial and Monetary-Credit Policy.” RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 23 That Dmitriy Vasilyev will become one of Anatoliy Chubays’ deputies in the government Federal Commis- sion on Securities and the Stock Market was obvious almost the moment this new body was set up. The government officials’ confidence stemmed not only from the fact that Chubays and Vasilyev have been working together even since they were in Leningrad. Dmitriy Vasilyev, in spite of his young—by apparatus stan- dards—age [32] has already shown himself as an experi- enced polemicist and tough administrator. In the very near future he will apparently have to call on these qualities to a greater extent: The formation of the commission as a government body has entered a final stage. Under a decree signed by the premier, the Federal Commission on Securities is given all the trappings of a full-fledged ministry (except the premises: The address of the commission headquarters will become known within two weeks). The commission includes 22 top government officials—from First Vice Premier Anatoliy Chubays (commission chairman) to the deputy justice minister. Experience shows, however, that without a technical apparatus no power body can lay claim even to tertiary roles in the political-economic hierarchy of gov- ernment structures. A 117-member executive board will formed within the federal commission, which will effec- tively provide Chubays with real power levers. Thus Anatoliy Chubays—Viktor Chernomyrdin’s first economic deputy—has managed substantially to revise the status of the cabinet’s economic policy ideologue: Unlike, say, Yegor Gaydar, his chances of fully imple- menting his intentions are immeasurably higher owing to the existing apparatus support. This point is also borne out by the decree on reforming the credit commission created back under Boris Fedorov, ~vhich will also be headed by Chubays. In addition to broader powers, the jurisdiction of this body ‘vill include the entire range of government financial and budget-credit policy: The commission will also have a working group whose chairman is Deputy Finance Minister Andrey Kazmin. New Party Looks To Uphold Provincial Interests MK1612132094 Moscow SEGODNYA in Russian 16 Dec 94 p 2 [Report by Oleg Kryuchek under the “Initiative” rubric: “Leader of Russian Provinces Has Emerged”’] {[FBIS Translated Text] Valeriy Podmasko, deputy chairman of the Duma committee on natural resources and the use of the natural environment, dec!ared that a Federalist Party has begun to be formed in the State Duma. According to the deputy, there is virtually ne single faction or political party in parliament 1oday to really uphold the interests of Russian provinces. The Party of Russian Unity and Accord faction, of which Mr. Podmasko is a member, is a Moscow-based structure, whereas the “New Regional Policy” faction is merely a lobbyist association of “single-seat electoral district indi- viduals.” This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 24 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS Mr. Podmasko believes that the Federalist Party is supposed to draw in healthy parliamentary forces and be filled with members of the provincial political elite. Besides, the people’s choice explained the doctrine prin- ciples of the new structure, warning in advance that the ranks of the party will inevitably swell at first, owing to the same infatuation with lobbying. According to Mr. Podmasko, given the current lack of political guideposts, the Federalist Party should be cre- ated on the basis of cultural traditions. It is unknown which traditions—soviet- oblast, uyezd-tsar, or Moscow- prince—the initiator-deputy had in mind. Fund Shortage Slows Komi Clean-Up LD1812061994 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1748 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Viktor Makarov] [FBIS Translated Text] Usinsk (Komi Republic), 17 Dec (TASS)—Another commission concerning the accidents, which occurred in August-September on the oil pipeline near Usinsk, today ended its work here. It consisted this time of members of a commission of deputies of the State Duma, Ministry of Environment, and the Socio- Ecological Association of Russia. None of the numerous commissions which have been here have yet given any real help especially in resolving the problems of finance of the work. There is a cata- strophic shortage of money for the work of cleaning up territory and building a new oil pipeline. The people working here have not even received their wages for months now. The 100-billion-ruble loan prom- ised by the Ministry of Fuel and Energy has been obstructed for more than a month now by officials in Moscow. Aid of 150 million rubles allegedly allocated by the Ministry of for Emergencies has, despite its insignifi- cance, not been received either. A telegram requesting the allocation of 45 billion rubles aid for eliminating the aftermath of the accidents was sent to Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin by head of the Komi Republic Yuriy Spiridonov and this has so far been left unanswered. The rate of work cleaning up polluted territory and building a new pipeline remains extremely slow. Kremlin Withdraws Pass of TASS Correspondent LD1712142894 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1400 GMT 17 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 17 TASS— The Russian president’s security service refused to let an ITAR-TASS correspondent, Tamara Zamyatina, in the Kremlin on Saturday to cover a session of the presiden- tial public chamber. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 The security service also confiscated her pass to the Kremlin, which expires on December 31, 1994. The move followed Zamyatina’s critical publications concerning the incident near the Moscow mayor’s office on December 2 that involved the presidential security service. Her articles and interviews were carried by the news- paper IZVESTIYA, the independent television company NTV and the Mayak and Ekho Moskvy radio stations. Government Discusses State Contol of Ostankino MM1612132394 Moscow RABOCHAYA TRIBUNA in Russian 16 Dec 94 p 7 {EFIR-DAYDZHEST report: “Ostankino. What a Dainty Morsel!”’] (FBIS Translated Text] Passions have been aroused over Ostankino which has been transformed by presidential edict into a public television company [obshchestven- noye televideniye}. Well-informed sources close to the government assert that some government structures are actively discussing the idea of assigning the controling stake in the public television company to a single state organization. According to that same source, this orga- nization could be either the Federal Service for Televi- sion and Radio Broadcasting or the Committee for Emergency Situations. It has also come to light from informed sources that the Russian president has given written approval to the list of shareholders in the public television company. There are four state enterprises among whom the controling stake will be distributed—Ostankino, the Television Technical Center, ITAR-TASS, and the State Committee for the Management of State Property. Of the 51 percent stake, 9 percent of the shares will go to Ostankino. The State Committee for the Management of State Property will receive a large share. In addition to state enterprises the shareholders will include eight other organizations. The association of independent program producers will be represented by RN-TV, VID, and Avtorskoye Televideniye. The founder banks will apparently include Menatep, Inko- mbank, Avtovazbank, and the Stolichnyy Bank. Results in Various Concerns MM1612142194 Moscow IZVESTIYA in Russian 16 Dec 94 p 9 {Article by Nikolay Serebryakov: “The Monster Is Dying. Long Live the Monster?”’] [FBIS Translated Text] So, “Ostankino” is to become the “Public Russian Television” [PRT] Joint-Stock Company. The president has decided this. According to his edict, it is to broadcast in just over one month’s time. As is known, 51 percent of the shares remain with state structures such as the “Ostankiro” Television and Radio This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyrigs.: owners FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Broadcasting Company, the State Committee for the Management of State Property, ITAR-TASS, and the Television Technical Center. But suddenly...information is received from sources that are perfectly trustworthy: The head of the Russian Fed- eration Government has an updated draft on his desk. It provides for the transfer of those same 51 percent of the shares to the Federal Service for Television and Radio Broadcasting [FSTRB]. And yet it did not originally feature at all among the shareholders. This is under- standable, since it has neither tangible property nor property rights. What is it doing here? What is its purpose? Whom is it to control? Oleg Poptsov? You cannot particularly order him about. The regional television companies? They are obstinate and shy away from FSTRB tutelage, as the devil shies away from incense. The service is losing functions. But the chief thing is the possibility of holding sway. It is hard to assume that the premier of the government fostered the new draft, for the state holds the controlling package, and there are no discernible reasons for entering into direct conflict with the president, who approved the original scheme for distributing the shares. Aleksandr Yakovlev, head of the FSTRB, does not have such reasons either: Rumor ascribes precisely to him the idea of creating public television. It is naive to think that an experienced democratic market politician was reck- oning on creating a television company with the partic- ipation of private capital, which would be controlled by the state. Particularly as Aleksandr Nikolayevich becomes chairman of the PRT Board of Directors, a still more important and responsible figure and, moreover, independent of the political struggle. Who, in that case, has an interest in the innovation? The authors—quite obviously!—should be sought within the FSTRB itself. Created exactly a year ago, bui so far having failed to convince society that it is needed, this service remains to this day an example of a bureaucratic, protracted con- struction project. It has only just started to be staffed. Until recently it consisted of the leader, A. Yakovlev, and...V. Lazutkin, his first deputy. We will not list the latter’s recent “services.” Suffice it to recall that it was Lazutkin who virtually headed the memorable coverage of the election campaign in December 1993, when Mr. Zhirinovskiy’s monologues dominated the airwaves and the shamefully noisy party in the Kremlin Palace was given airtime. Mr. Lazutkin was dismissed but then...ap- pointed first deputy at the FSTRB. He is still in the same office. He remains the most influential figure in the television and radio company. With the emergence of PRT he loses everything. But what if the FSTRB receives 51 percent of the shares? Then Valentin Valentinovich will be able to “rule the roost” in television on behalf of the state. RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 25 It can be assumed that such a course of events would benefit those who are interested in beefing up state control over television coverage of events in Chechnya. For Mr. Lazutkin’s many years’ professional experience in the External Relations Administration of the Gostel- eradio [State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting] (we know what else the journalists whom it watched over did and where they frequently served!) enables us to hope that he will not let down the sup- porters of a tough policy, like the one now being pursued in Chechnya. And yet it is not a question of precisely who will be the biggest chief of the structure which holds the controlling package of shares. The main point is that such a depart- ment, which has no aims other than to order the elec- tronic mass media about and which lives for this, its monopoly function, will bury the very idea of public television in Russia. In addition, there will be a sharp diminution of the effect expected from admitting private capital into television. And yet precisely this is at the basis of the idea of public television, and precisely this will make it possible to recoup the cost and make quality programs. But the option that involves placing 51 percent of the PRT shares in the hands of a single state structure—an option in which they are trying to interest even V. Chernomyrdin, who is a champion of the market— cancels everything out and turns PRT into a simple appendage of the state department. Instead of public television, there will be the same old Gosteleradio headed by officials. It is suggested to private investors: “Paying money is up to you. But what we do with it is up to us.” An official is an official. His function is not to save money, still less to make it. His function is to spend money. There is no need to demonstrate that this art has been brought to perfection in the state’s “Ostankino.” If the new option for a share flotation prevails, private companies most likely will not play such games. And then two state television companies again? And again the question—where is the money to be found? This will no longer be public television but, according to the old demagogic formula, television of “the whole people.” This means television of officialdom.... Economic Issues Livshits Discusses Current Issues MM1612152194 Moscow KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA in Russian 16-19 Dec 94 p 5 {Interview with Aleksandr Livshits, presidential eco- nomic adviser, by Aleksandr Lyasko and Sergey Razin; date, place not given: “Aleksandr Livshits: Russian Klondike Era Coming to an End. President’s Economic Aide Amazed By ‘Mushroom Pickers,’ Hates ‘Dino- saurs,’ and Tries To Look to the Future”’} This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 26 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS [FBIS Translated Text] [Livshits] My job is clear. We are not rivals of other reformers. During our discussions we do not curse one another, but nor do we fraternize with one another. I would like to see whether Chubays knows the answers to those questions that I have prepared for tomorrow’s meeting. If not, we will sit down and seek them together. [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA] Aleksandr Yakov- levich, will society be able to survive without losses the recent liberalization of the prices of many goods, including fuel prices? Especially since the state intends in return to allocate how much oil should be delivered to whom within the country. [Livshits] The question goes far deeper. It is a question of the kind of market economy we are creating here by common efforts. How will we restrain domestic fuel consumption—by the size of the export pipeline? Is there enough gasoline, or will we have to travel abroad by bicycle to buy fuel? There is of course a market-economy answer: Buy it abroad if you do not have enough of your own. But there is, after all, a prosaic side to life too. It is expressed in those very same fue! nonpayments: Borrowed funds make up virtually 100 percent of oil refineries’ working capital. They do not use a single kopek of their own money, but they do not pay money to either their suppliers or the budget. They dispatch gaso- line somewhere, those people in turn fail to pay for it—who are the last people in the chain? Nizhniy Novgorod’s “‘Nefteorgsintez” has set a record: It sent gasoline worth several billions of rubles over the year to @ certain joint-stock company, comprising one person. That person failed to pay, and that was that. Whom can you love so much apart from your own child that you can give away 2 billion of someone else’s property? Meanwhile the defaulter allegedly opens a hard-currency deposit account for $20 million at 5-percent annual interest. A record of ingenuousness—not at 100 percent but a modest 5 percent. While the leadership of another “‘Nefteorgsintez” immediately opens hard-currency accounts with the same bank. Specialists here are racking their brains, shaping concepts for nonpayment, and arguing abou: manufacturers’ reaction to the complexi- ties of the transitional period. While the main defaulters are these joint-stock companies consisting of one to three people apiece. At the conference in Novosibirsk Chubays even said that half of all nonpayments are a matter cf theft. [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA] Thus, the new Gos- plan [State Planning Committee] is intended to combat dishonesty among enterprises themselves? {Livshits] In an even more general form: Dinosaur- structures that have gotten accustomed to hot, fetid water are the main force hampering and retarding reforms. They cannot live on the surface, but they do have brains and experience. They are therefore recre- ating the “primordial soup.”” Vague legislation and lack FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 of discipline play into their hands. They are absolutely apolitical. Everyone who deftly takes their interests into account will receive a great deal of money for the elections. Their demagogic slogan is this: Stability in other words cannot change a thing. “Don’t dare touch our economic freedom with your dirty hands!” [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA] But a return to administrative levers may cost us Western mistrust of our reforms. And as a result may mean that we are denied next year’s line of credit—and that involves over $13 billion already planned for the budget. [Livshits} I am relying on the West’s manifesting a depth of understanding of our problems. We recently went to the United States and prepared for the president's visit, for which dozens of meetings were organized. I can say that all in all the West has a far more optimistic view of Russia’s prospects than you and I do. The Americans love to plan everything, including our upturn; they are making very serious preparations—buying up large blocks of shares in privatized enterprises and bringing in large amounts of hard currency, including cash. It is very doubtful that they vill turn their back on our reforms; the fact that the limits of liberalization have indeed been overstepped in a number of areas is another matter. I will give you just two examples. Prices: We have already lost natural monopolists—railroad tariffs, for instance. And then there is privatization. Imagine a large mine owned by the labor collective. The wonderful collective has gobbled up what it could, and there is barely enough money left for current consumption. An annual meeting of shareholders is convened. And people say: What about our dividends? Where are our Toyotas and Sonys? There is no money? How can there be no money? Well then, we are the masters: We will now get rid of the director! What is to be done? In principle you can issue more shares, thus luring a powerful investor, who will come alone and tell the workers: Another two years of this policy and you will not have Toyotas or a mine but just a fond farewell. Thus I am convinced of the need for temporary and partial deprivatization. On the principle of granny’s hope chest—the controlling block of shares will appear on the market in two or three years, we will open up the chest and dip into the reserves when the investors are mature enough. And only in the event of there being no private investor do we introduce a state manager. State management is not a one-way street; there is room here for buying and selling. [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA] Might people be afraid of investing money in major projects with long periods of recoupment owing to dramatic dips in the market like “Black Tuesday”? [Livshits] As for “Black Tuesday,” there is something of a red herring in that explanation. For instance, the banks categorically deny a conspiracy aimed at bringing down the ruble. Indeed, I do not believe in a conspiracy. It was This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 just a routine case of going into free-fall. i am only surprised at the shortsightedness shown by the people involved in the speculation. It would have been OK had the ruble fallen 100 points, but 900! Political fallout is inevitable. Let me draw the following analogy. A man goes to a clearing and wants to pick all the mushrooms there. He sees a bear’s lair but does not balk. There are also fine mushrooms growing there. The bear growls and the man is amazed: I am only picking mushrooms, I am not hurting anyone. It is the same with our currency specu- lators. They simply have no instinct for self-control. [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA] Are you not amazed that there is none of the customary panic buying at the end of the year? All the shelves in the stores used to be completely cleared out, and now even the major traders have surpluses in their warehouses. Perhaps the people have finally come to believe in stabilization? jLivshits] Surpluses on the markets are a healthy sign. Moreover, a serious and painful process is under way— the move to a low profit norm, for voth traders and banks, particularly for the “spoilt children” who emerged atop the crest of inflation. The Russian Klondike era is over. The stabilization expected by the consumer is a fine thing, But something else is frighten- ing—the change in manufacturers’ expectations. In August 40 percent of manufacturers had no intention of raising the prices of their output. But in practice it takes nine months to change someone’s expectations, like pregnancy. In another three or four months an irrevers- ible keenness for stabilization would have emerged. But “Black Tuesday” ruined everything: Only 19 percent of directors have no intention of raising prices now. Thus, the remaining 81 percent are bent on devaluing the ruble. [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA] How can you explain the fact that many Western goods, household and video goods included, are sold at lower prices in Moscow than in Europe? Perhaps customs posts on entering Russia have already been replaced by more effective criminal cordons which divert imports “onto the black market’’? [Livshits] There are fairly entrenched, powerful struc- tures which are exempt from import duties and are accorded deferments when it comes to paying tax and excise duties. After all, how does a “dinosaur” reason? Yesterday after all the exemptions his annual profits totaled $150 million, say. He sees that 100 million are left once the concessions are taken away and yells: “We will not survive! It’s the end of the world!” And on the quiet seeks other grounds for concessions. Admittedly, only so long as there is someone to oppose. [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA] Te!! us, is the govern- ment not preparing on the quiet a gift for its citizens in the form of more monetary reform? [{Livshits] I don’t think so. Who can put up a roof without building a house? Well, we have carried out RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 27 reform, but with this kind of inflation will we to have start everything from scratch within a year? At some point it will of course be necessary to carry out a revaluation of our currency, crossing out the excess zeros on price tags and banknotes. Or else people will be carting money around in suitcases. We will exchange bank notes over a six-month period, say, without secrets and giving people three days to exchange their notes, and this will be organized in a deliberately open and unos- tentatious way. Never mind confiscating any superin- comes. [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA] Can you predict our financial situation for next year? {Livshits] The year 1995 may be a kind of bridge between the inflationary past and a future of investment. I am referring to national investors. By the end of the year, to sum up, we may obtain an annual inflation level of 50-60 percent and a slightly higher credit rate of 60-70 percent. I like experimenting with directors. I tell a director: “Your credit rate is 60 percent.” He replies: I will certainly not come a cropper, I will go to people who issue money at 60 percent. There will be a very real rush for spare cash. The federal government will be jostling for the big bucks—loans for state bonds. Local authorities will be pushing municipal loans. Banks and joint-stock enterprises will be doing their own thing. And then these wheeler-dealers will say: Give us money for your children’s sake.... It will all be rainbows, homes, sunshine.... By and large sundry sav- ings companies which grab you by the throat in an affectionate manner, with gusto. I can already distin- guish them by their voices. But the market area is fairly restricted. And it is quite clear that the government is a mastodon there, moreover share holders are not breathing down its neck for dividends. The state debt, inflation, the budget deficit—everything hinges on how many state bonds the Central Bank takes on. According to the government’s plans, inflationary pressure from that quarter will be less than in 1994. According to experts’ assessments, 20 percent of private investors are people knowr ito be risk-takers. He goes along with an enterprise, but puts his own money in another company; if he is defrauded there, he goes along to a third. He is a real glutton for punishment. This sector of the market only wants offers of get-rich schemes. But for serious financial companies the time has come to seriously contemplate the cramped condi- tions on the money market. Only “shuttle investors” will remain to provide credit at 200 percent a year and thus rub along. But those who change their behavior on the market in favor of more effective productive investment, reducing the percentage profit, will really survive. How- ever, they will be looking for money for their projects under a real government, which will pay them 240 percent a year on its short-term bonds. [KOMSOMOLSKAYA PRAVDA] Are you not scared that your rosy forecasts may be easily overturned by the This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 28 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS State Duma’s bold moves like the recent wholesale raising of the minimum wage? [Livshits] The raising of the minimum wave from 20,000 to 54,000 [rubles] has been given a first reading by the State Duma. Then will come the government’s findings on the draft law, as always happens when it is a matter of budget expenditure. According to the government, the rise in the minimum wage translates into enormous sums: 6.5 trillion rubles a month jusi vy recomputing the wages of budget-funded personnel and reducing tax revenue. Moreover, this may bring a rapid increase in overt unemployment. Directors will start dismissing people because they will be physically unable to pay their wages. Things will probably not go so far as a presiden- tial veto. The Duma will see reason faster than that. But this is symptomatic. I can already foresee populism in the 1995 preelection campaign and vying with one another in expressions of love for ordinary people. Trade Bill Increases State Regulation MK1612150094 Moscow SEGODNYA in Russian 16 Dec 94 p 2 [Report by Aleksandr Bekker under the “Government” rubric: “Etatists Have Pressed Liberals Aside. Foreign Economic Relations Ministry Tightens State Regula- tion”] [FBIS Translated Text] Yet another clash of stances on the regulation of foreign economic activity took place at yesterday’s government meeting. The Foreign Economic Relations Ministry [FERM] presented the draft law “On Russian Foreign Economic Activity.” According to Deputy Minister Fradkov, it is “aimed at ensuring the country’s sovereignty and economic security.” The doc- ument calls for export and import monopolies to be introduced on a temporary basis. This provision was criticized by the liberal wing of the Cabinet of Ministers for failing to specify how long the non-tariff measures will be in force. The entire FERM concept was also criticized for being overly centralized. Countering the liberals’ criticism, the ministry said it is ready to give reasons for its course toward tightening the screws: Russia’s estimated losses from the concealment and unauthorized transfer of hard-currency earnings abroad reached $10-12 billion this year. One-hundred twenty control audits of Russian residents’ compliance with currency legislation have helped the state reclaim 10 billion rubles, $33 million, and 1 million Deutsche marks. For this reason the FERM decided to establish control over the key currency flows and proposed in its draft law that it be entrusted with the function of coordinating foreign economic activity. The draft law has vividly revealed the FERM’s drift toward an increase in state regulation. This concerns the retention of the institution of special exporters, and control over energy resources export via the introduction of internal quotas. A 100-percent sale of hard-currency FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 earnings by exporters and quotas on the import of certain products also appear to have been set in motion. The government’s approval of the draft law means that the advocates of tighter foreign trade regulation have gained the upper hand at mid-finish. The Cabinet of Ministers’s liberal wing under Mr. Chubays still has a chance, however. First, the draft law was sent back to be streamlined, taking into account critical remarks; second, the liberals were below strength at the govern- ment meeting—the sick Economy Minister Yasin and his first deputy, Mr. Urinson, were not present. If they recover by the second hearing, they will try to modify the draft, unless the sociopolitical situation in the country changes too abruptly by that time. Duma Approves Savings Compensation Law MK1612143094 Moscow SEGODNYA in Russian 16 Dec 94 p 2 [Report by Dmitriy Volkov: “The Duma of Lost Money [pun, Duma also meaning folk ballad]. The Lower House Has Adopted a Law ’On Restoring and Protecting Citi- zens’ Savings”) [FBIS Translated Text] The state Duma has adopted a draft law “On Restoring and Protecting Citizens’ Sav- ings,” and now this document will go to the senate. The draft establishes state obligations on restoring citizens’ savings lost after price liberalization. Its sponsors— communist Viktor Zorkaltsev, social democrat Vasiliy Lipitskiy, and “unprefixed” democrat Sergey Glazyev— explained that “the task of restoring and protecting the savings” accumulated by citizens in the “pre-reform period” is a “necessary precondition for implementing and enhancing the effectiveness of economic reform.” The draft law includes the savings lost in the internal state debt whose redemption the government guarantees using all the resources at its disposal. The drafters are counting on the results of the current effort to define the mechanism of noninflationary servicing and repayment of the internal debt. The law proposed to the senate is a framework one, and all payments will be made in line with other, upcoming, documents. Therefore the deputies rejected a remark contained in the government conclusion on the draft. According to Vasiliy Lipitskiy, the gist of the govern- ment objections was that when the law enters into force, the state debt will increase by 400 trillion rubles while inflation will intensify. Lipitskiy, refuting the opinion of Cabinet of Ministers experts, said yesterday that the “debt has already been recognized” under a presidential edict. Apparently he meant the exchange between Boris Yeltsin and Rusian Khasbulatov in March 1993, when the Kremlin and the Supreme Soviet competed in luring the citizens to their side in the run-up to a referendum on a in the president. The allusion is not very nice but fair. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright ownczs. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 One can doubt, however, the fairness of Duma econo- mists who maintain that the ongoing work on creating noninflationary mechanisms of covering state expendi- tures will necessarily lead to the actual emergence of such mechanisms. State obligations will be recorded in a law, and if for some reason the mechanism does not work, the domestic financiers will have either to break the pre- scriptions of the law and do nothing, or use another, proven, mechanism: the inflationary one. Interestingly, the government has estimated a possible failure of these tests at 400 trillion rubles, which is no mean sum. It is also noteworthy that the law drafters use the concept of “purchasing power of the Russian currency,” for instance, when talking about 1990. Under the law, it is calculated based on the cost of products, goods, and services ensuring a “normal physiological existence of the individual.” This term, however, does not (and cannot possibly) take into account the physical absence of products, goods, and services, typical of the “pre- reform period.” As a result, citizens often saved money precisely because they could not spend it: Not because of high prices but because there was nothing to spend the money on. Of course, the deputies and highly placed politicians could not have known this at the time, and this is why they keep silent about it now. Military & Space Issues ‘Luch’ Communications Satellite Reaches Orbit LD1612135994 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1348 GMT 16 Dec 94 ‘By ITAR-TASS correspondent Viktor Gritsenko] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 16 TASS— The Russian military space forces today launched a proton-K booster to put into orbit a Luch retransmiiter satellite. The new satellite will control the orbital piloted Mir station and organise urgent telephone communication in emergencies. The booster blasted off from the Baykonur space centre in Kazakhstan at 15.00 Moscow time (12.00 GMT) on Friday, December 16, spokesman for the Russian space forces Ivan Safronov told ITAR-TASS. Samara Produces Modernized Rocket Motors LD1812225394 Moscow Mayak Radio Network in Russian 1450 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Summary] The Samara Engine Construction Pro- duction Association has successfully tested a modernized space engine at its own simulation launch pad. The development of the modernized engine is part of the Rus national space program, which involves manned space missions and other projects at the Plesetsk cosmo- drome. The modernized engine is more powerful than RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 29 earlier modifications, which means that it can take heavier cargoes into in orbit. Designers have managed to adapt existing equipment and techniques for the assembly of the new engines, thus saving jobs and cutting production costs. Anatoliy Annenkov, head of branch at the production association, predicts that the engine makers should have enough orders for the next 20-30 years. Serial production of the engines is planned for 1996. Official Describes New Space Radar LD1912115994 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1148 GMT 19 Dec 94 {[FBIS Transcribed Text] December 19. Moscow. (INTERFAX)—A leading Russian engineering plant, specializing in military and civilian rockets, has designed Almaz, a new radar equipped spacecraft that will allow io probe the earth in any weather. As Vladimir Viter, first assistant to the plant’s general designer, has reported to Interfax, Almaz-1B is to be launched in late 1997 to make it possible to picture the earth and environment in detail, locate mineral deposits, monitor the state of ice, oceans and seas, and help in such emergencies such as fires or accidents. Viter argues that being short of an Almaz type space probe in orbit, Russia has been running 60-70 billion rubles in losses year after year. A joint-stock Russian-American company (SAR) has been set up to implement the Almaz-1B project, esti- mated at $370 million. It comprises the Russian engi- neering plant (47 percent of the charter capital), the state-run Rosvocruzhenyie (4 percent), and the U.S. Sokol Group Inc. (49 percent). Experts say the project will be repaid in two years after the launch. $120 million have already been invested. Federal Assembly Federation Council To Hear ‘Power Ministers’ on Chechnya LD1712091294 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 0859 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Lyudmila Alexandrova] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 17 TASS— Today’s session of the Federation Council, which con- tinues to discuss the situation in Chechnya, plans to hear reports of the so-called “power ministers” (the defence and interior ministers) and heads of special services. It was decided to hold that part of the session behind closed doors. Members of the Federation Council are expected as well to adopt a resolution in connection ‘with the appeal of the Russian president to deputies to the Federal Assembly, This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. w RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS dated December 12 1994, in which Yeltsin urged “pop- ularly elected deputies to formulate their constructive point of view on ways of overcoming the crisis” in Chechnya. To Demand End of Chechen Military Action LD1712121094 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1142 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Lyudmila Aleksan- drova] {[FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 17 Dec—The Federa- tion Council intends to demand that the Russian Feder- ation president and Government “immediately cease military operations and continue the negotiation process at a higher level of government delegations, proceeding from the principles of preserving the Russian Federa- tion’s integrity and providing an opportunity for a free declaration of the will of the people of the Chechen Republic.” This wording is contained in a draft decision that was adopted as a basis today. Voting on it as a whole will take place during the evening session. More on Council’s Demand LD1712135294 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1313 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Lyudmila Alexandrova] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 17 TASS— The Federation Council (Russian parliament upper chamber) intends to demand that the Russian president and government “should stop immediately hostilities and continue the negotiating process at a higher level of government delegations, guided by the principles of preserving the integrity of the Russian Federation and giving a chance to the peoples of the Chechen Republic for a free expression of their will’’. This wording is recorded in a draft decision which was adopted as a basis on Saturday [17 December]. The voting as a whole will be held at the evening session. To avoid an uncontrollable use of armed forces, the upper chamber instructed appropriate committees to prepare proposals on legal regulation of decision-making concerning the use of armed forces in the territory of the Russian Federation. A decision summing up the debate on the Chechen problem in the Federation Council points to the need for “ensuring unbiased information of population on the events in Chechnya”. The chamber supported the Russian president’s proposal on joint activity of the federal bodies of state power to overcome the crisis in Chechnya. It is expected that the evening session of the chamber, apart from the final voting on this decision, will adopt FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 another document: the house will express its position concerning the Russian president’s address to the Rus- sian parliament. Duma Refuses To Discuss Chechnya Resolution LD1612145794 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1444 GMT 16 Dec 94 {By ITAR-TASS parliamentary correspondent Ivan Novikov] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 16—The Russian State Duma refused today to discuss a resolu- tion on Chechnya prepared by a group of deputies. The draft approves of the president’s initiative to cease fire in the Chechen Republic and resume negotiations. The discussion was supported by 121 parliament depu- ties while it requires no less than 226. The draft expressed the hope for “decisive progress at negotiations to be achieved within 48 hours set by the president.” Observers do not exclude that the Duma may revise the issue at the evening session. Duma Passes Law on Presidential Elections LD1612202494 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1923 GMT 16 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Having considered two alterna- tives of the draft law on presidential elections introduced by the president and the parliamentary faction YAB- LOKO, the State Duma opted for the presidential draft and passed it in the first hearing. A total of 312 votes were cast in favor and seven against the document, with two abstentions. According to the presidential version of the draft law developed by the Central Election Commission, only one presidential candidate may be nominated by either an election bloc or directly by the electorate. An election bloc nominates its candidate by secret ballot at its congress or conference. A presidential candidate can also be nominated by an initiative group of individuals of at least 100 persons by canvassing two million signatures in favor of this candidate. Moreover, no more than seven percent of signatures can be canvassed in each item of the federation. To create equal conditions for all presidential candi- dates, those employed by a state or municipal body or mass media will be relieved of their duties for the period of the election campaign. However, the draft law fails to provide a mechanism for relieving the acting president of his duties or restricting them if he joins the race for another term in the office. Each presidential candidate is entitled to spend no more than five billion rubles on his campaign. A candidate who canvassed over half of the votes is recognized as president-elect. Elections will be recog- nized as valid if attended by over half of the electors. If This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 none of the candidates canvass the required number of votes, a second round of elections is held, provided there are more than two candidates on the ballot paper. The president-elect begins his duties on the 30th day from the official publication of the election returns. The other version of the draft law proposed by the faction YABLOKO envisioned canvassing at least 300,000 signatures in favor of a presidential candidate nominated by both election blocs and individuals’ ini- tiative groups. The document provides a mechanism for verifying the authenticity of signatures canvassed. In addition, the document contains a provision restricting the possibility of direct or indirect bribing of electors. Committee Passes No-Confidence Measure on Shumeyko LD1612181394 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1617 GMT 16 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, Dec 16 (INTER- FAX)—The security and defense committee of Russia’s Federation Council passed a decision on non-confidence in the chamber speaker Vladimir Shumeyko because he failed to inform deputies about the planned introduction of forces in Chechnya, a member of the committee Valeriy Fateyev declared in an interview with Interfax on Friday. “On December 8 we adopted a resolution on Chechnya which contains an item on inadmissibility to use coer- cive methods with respect to the Chechen crisis and on December 11 I saw that forces eniered Ingushetia,” Fateyev noted. In his words, “such operations are never prepared in 24 hours, it is quite clear that on December 8 the decision on forces introduction, which could not bypass the Security Council, was adopted.” The Federation Council delegated Shumeyko to the Security Council and Shumeyko was to inform the deputies about the operation, Fateyev believes. Thus, Fateyev said, “the chairman of the chamber either did not know and did not say, which is very bad, or he did not know anything, and this is awfully bad.” In addition, Fateyev said, “the deputies proposed to discuss these issues, which are fraught with Russia’s collapse, early this year but the leadership of the Feder- ation Council has not adopted any appropriate measures and permitted the present situation which is called a war.” Due to this fact, Fateyev said, the security and defense committee passed a decision “to part with a man who knew everything but remained silent, who had an oppor- tunity to consolidate efforts of the deputies but failed to do this.” RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS Duma Defense Committee’s Piskunov Cited on Defense Budget MK1712081094 Moscow SEGODNYA in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 2 [Report by Gleb Cherkasov under the “Criticism” rubric: “Aleksandr Piskunov Displeased With ’Defense’ Clauses of Draft Budget”} {[FBIS Translated Text] Aleksandr Piskunov, State Duma Defense Committee deputy chairman, subjected the “defense” clauses of the 1995 draft budget to sharp criticism yesterday. Mr. Piskunov noted that the concil- iation commission failed to consider the Duma commit- tee’s stance. In Mr. Piskunov’s view, if the sum of 45 trillion rubles [R] appropriated for the army for the coming year remains unchanged in the future, the reten- tion of the current number of servicemen would simply become senseless. Speaking about the Defense Ministry’s demands (R111 trillion), Aleksandr Piskunov noted that this figure is unrealistic but at the same time is quite valid for today’s army. The deputy warned that only between R1.5 and R2 trillion will be realistically spent on armaments in the coming year. In Aleksandr Piskunov’s view, the defense spending sum should be increased by R10.8 trillion; the additional funds should be channeled in equal portions for the construction of housing for career military per- sonnel being discharged into the reserves, and for a technical rearming of the army. Mr. Piskunov believed that the closed part of the budget is supposed to show the following priorities: the retaining by Russia of its nuclear power status (even if this requires modification of the START II treaty), and the development of space-based and high-precision weapons and ammunition. in his words, the Russian Federation, in its European part alone, has at its disposal 40,000 tonnes of chemical weapons awaiting “recycling” which are corroding tank cars. Also to be destroyed are 80,000 railroad cars with conventional ammunition, much of which have been neatly stored since World War I. Touching on the situation in Chechnya, Aleksandr Piskunov declared that the army budget will not be able to bear for long the outlays for the troops there. He also presumed that if military operations go on, there might be problems with the spring conscription campaign. Regional Affairs Duda,yev Ready To Start Talks LD1712111294 Moscow Russian Television Network in Russian 1100 GMT 17 Dec 94 [From the “Vesti” newscast] [FBIS Translated Text] We have just been told by the temporary information center that Dzhokhar Dudayev has stated his readiness to start talks without any pre- conditions. According to the same source, Dudayev’s This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 32 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS armed units are putting up resistance to subunits of the Russian Internal Affairs Ministry conducting operations to blockade Groznyy. At present, Russian military sub- units have reached commanding heights in the imme- diate vicinity of the capital of Chechnya. Further on Dudayev’s Readiness LD1712211194 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 2051 GMT 17 Dec 94 {By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Groznyy December 18 TASS— Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev told Russian President Boris Yeltsin he was ready to begin peace talks with Russia at a proper level without any preconditions. In his telegram sent to Yeltsin at 20:05 [1705 GMT] on Saturday, Dudayev said he would personally head an official delegation to the talks. “I hereby state that I issued an order on December 16, 1994 to stop hostilities as of 15:00 against Russian troops in order to avoid escalation of the fratricidal conflict and innocent victims, including among civil- ians,” the telegram said. “I am addressing you with the proposal for a similar step. I agree with your proposal to begin negotiations at a proper level without any preconditions and to person- ally head an official delegation of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeriya,” he said. Earlier today, Dudayev invited Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin to arrive in Groznyy for talks on Chechen settlement. He emphasised specifically that “if the meeting takes place, it should be held on a govern- ment level.” Chechen Leaders insist on Troop Withdrawal LD1712125494 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1232 GMT !17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Valeriy Shanaev] {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Vladikavkaz December 17 TASS—Vyacheslav Mikhaylov, Russian deputy minister for the affairs of nationalities and regional policy, held today a series of talks with chairman of the North Ossetian parliament Yuriy Biragov and head of the provisional administration Viadimir Lozovoy. They dis- cussed the situation in the North Caucasian region in the context of the developments in Chechnya. Chairman of a committee at the North Ossetian parlia- ment Yuriy Sidakov told ITAR-TASS today that Chechen Vice President Zalimkhan Yandarbiev and Chechen Prosecutor-General Usman Imayev reaffirmed in telephone conversations that the Chechen delegation was ready to come to Vladikavkaz for holding talks. However, the terms of the Chechen side remain the same: the withdrawal of the Russian Army and Interior FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Ministry troops from the territory of Chechnya and only after that the beginning of the disarmament of illegal armed units. Chechnya Refuses To Reply to Russia’s Telegram LD1712143894 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1413 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Groznyy December 17 TASS— The Chechen authorities said on Saturday they consid- ered it “absolutely unnecessary” to reply to Russia’s telegram inviting Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev to take part in the talks on ways to settle the Chechen conflict on Saturday. The telegram was sent earlier today by Russian Vice- Prime Minister Nikolay Yegorov and counterintelli- gence chief Sergey Stepashin. The talks were due to take place in Mozdok, North Ossetia, at 18:00 today. Dudayev’s spokesman confirmed the receipt of the tele- gram by fax, but spoke very negatively about its content. He also said that “there will be no more official com- ments on this topic.” Dudayev Refuses Meeting With Russian Ministers LD1712160294 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1454 GMT 17 Dec 94 {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Groznyy, Dec 17 (INTER- FAX)}—Dzhokhar Dudayev will not come to Mozdok to negotiate with Russian Vice Premier Nikolay Yegorov and the FSK [Federal Counterintelligence Service] Director Sergey Stepashin, as it was proposed to him in a telegram from Moscow this morning, Dudayev’s appa- ratus reported to Interfax. “Groznyy does not comment and will not comment on the received invitation,” an employee from Dudayev’s apparatus declared to Interfax. In his words, “the position of the Chechen party is already determined by the decision of the government regarding the Russian-Chechen negotiations and by Dzhokhar Dudayev’s statement concerning this issue.” The employee made it clear that the matter concerns “urgent negotiations at the supreme level without any preliminary conditions.” Meanwhile, well informed sources told our Interfax correspondent that Groznyy plans to invite ex president of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev, Lithuania’s ex presi- dent Vitautas Landsbergis, Russian General Boris Gromov and former leader of the executive power of Moscow’s Krasnopresnenskiy region Aleksandr Krasnov as supervisors at the possible Russian-Chechen negotia- tions at the supreme level. Our Interfax correspondent This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 reports that this issue was considered at an operative sitting attended by Dudayev on Saturday. Yegorov Threatens Further Air Strikes LD1712164994 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1611 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS special correspondent Mikhail Shevtsov] {FBIS Transcribed Text] Mozdok, North Ossetia, December 17 TASS—Russian Vice-Prime Minister Nikolay Yegorov threatened to launch new air strikes if Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev fails to disarm his illegal armed groups. “If Dzhokhar Dudayev fails to state his readiness to comply with the decision of the Russian leadership on the disarmament of illegal armed groups by midnight December 18, 1994, an air strike will be delivered on strategic facilities in Groznyy in accordance with the latest decision of the (Russian) Security Council,” Yegorov told ITAR-TASS upon his return to Mozdok from Moscow where he had attended a meeting of the Russian Security Council. He also stressed that if “he (Dudayev) does not come to his senses after the strike, the bands will be destroyed.” Stepashin has arrived in Mozdok along with Yegorov. The ministers of the interior and defence, Viktor Yerin and Pavel Grachev, remain in Moscow. Stepashin refused to comment on the causes of the delay in their arrival. Earlier today, Yegorov issued a similar warning saying that “if adequate measures for disarming illegal armed groups on the territory of the Chechen Republic are not taken before midnight December 18, a missile strike will be delivered on strategic facilities in Groznyy.” Russian Security Council Secretary Oleg Lobov also stressed today that the deadline set by President Boris Yeltsin for illegal armed bands to lay down their arms will not be extended. He pointed out that if Dudayev fails to meet the deadline, Russian Interior Ministry troops and the army may use force to disarm armed groups. Dudayev said on Friday he was ready to resume talks on any terms, but demanded that Russian troops be with- drawn from Chechnya first. However, on Saturday he refused to arrive in Mozdok for talks with the Russian delegation led by Yegorov And stepashin. He also invited Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin to come to Groznyy for talks on Chechen settlement. “I welcome Viktor Chernomyrdin’s willingness to con- duct talks with us and, as chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Chechen Republic, I am ready to receive RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 33 him in Groznyy at any time,”” Dudayev said at a briefing after meeting his military leaders on Saturday. He emphasised specifically that “if the meeting takes place, it should be held on a government level.” Lobov who chaired the council session on Saturday pointed out that Russia is prepared to talk with the Chechen leader only aboui the disarmament of illegal armed groups in Chechnya. “Only a voluntary surrender of arms by all illegal armed groups on the territory of the Chechen Republic can be the subject of talks with Dzhokhar Dudayev.” “If this does not happen, no other questions will be discussed,” he added. Lobov advised civilians to leave Groznyy, adding that it was impossible to ensure their security. He noted that those who wish to leave the town should use security corridors in the southern part of the city which has already been blockaded from north, east and west. Lobov Says Arms Surrender Sole Issue for Talks LD1712145194 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1350 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Andrey Shtorkh] {[FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 17 Dec—“The only possible subject for talks with Dzhokhar Dudayev is the voluntary surrender of arms by all of the illegal armed formations on the territory of the Chechen Republic. If that does not take place, then no other issues will be discussed.” Russian Security Council Secretary Oleg Lobov said this at a news conference in Moscow today. Quoting a private conversation with one of Dudayev’s aides, he said the Chechen leader had given oral agree- ment to arrive for talks in Mozdok with a Russian delegation led, in accordance with the decision of the Russian Security Council, by Deputy Prime Minister Nikolay Yegorov and FSK [Federal Counter-Intelligence Service] director Sergey Stepashin. When journalists put it to him that Dudayev had refused to come to Mozdok, Oleg Lobov said he did not “know anything about that.” Oleg Lobov said the deadline for illegal armed forma- tions in Chechnya to voluntarily surrender arms and the amnesty deadline established in the address of the Rus- sian President “would not be extended.” Thus Dudayev had a matter of hours left to take the decision to disarm all the illegal groups operating in Chechnya, he stressed. Following the expiry of the deadline Defense and Inte- rior Ministry troops could begin a disarmament opera- tion with the use of force, Oleg Lobov added. The secretary of ihe Security Council urgently advised the civilian population of Groznyy to leave the town as it seemed impossible to guarantee the safety of civilians and journalists now in Groznyy. To this end he advised them to use the so-called safety corridors through which citizens wishing to leave Groznyy would be allowed to This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 34 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS leave the town unhindered. Safety corridors have been left in the south of the town—the other sides of Groznyy have been blockaded. No More Extensions to Deadline LD1712180594 Moscow Ostankino Television First Channel Network in Russian 1505 17 Dec 94 [Report by Andrey Murtazin from an unscheduled “Novosti” newscast] {[FBIS Translated Text] When the Russian president’s final deadline for the voluntary surrender of arms and for the amnesty expires, there will be no further exten- sions, Security Council Secretary Oleg Lobov said today, summing up the results of today’s sitting of the council. In this cas, troops will start an operation to disarm illegal groups on the territory of Chechnya. [Begin Lobov recording] There is only one way out: to lay down weapons, start disarming, and come to the negotiating table, without any preconditions. This view is reflected in the decision of the Security Council and in the address published two days ago by the president to the people of the Republic of Chechnya. [end recording] Groznyy Reported Calm as Deadline Passes LD1712225894 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 2222 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] [FBIS Translated Text] Groznyy, 18 Dec—In the first few minutes since the deadline for the disarmament of illegal armed formations in Chechnya has expired, a combat aircraft flew over Groznyy at high altitude. Apart from this, the situation in the town seems calm. The streets are being patrolled by home guard members who are well armed. The town’s services are working as usual. There have been no disruptions of electricity, water, or gas supplies. Local television is still broad- casting. It is showing reports from regions of confronta- tion between the Chechen defense forces and subunits of Russia’s Interior and Defense ministries. According to Dudayev’s headquarters, there is a lull in all sectors. People who stayed in the town have left their lights on. They probably hope there will be no military actions. Dudayev Agrees to Talks With Yeltsin LD1712201394 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 2000 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] [FBIS Translated Text] Groznyy, 17 Dec—Dzhokhar Dudayev has agreed to the Russian president’s proposal to begin talks at the appropriate level without prelimi- nary conditions and has decided to head a delegation of FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 the Chechen republic personally. This was stated in a telegram that Dudayev sent to Boris Yeltsin at 2005 hours [1705 GMT] today. Dudayev Telephone Conversation Intercepted LD1812143494 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1440 GMT 17 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 17 Dec—The press service of the government of the Russian Federation circulated the following report today: Implementing the decree No. 2166 by the president of the Russian Federation of 9 December 1994 “On mea- sures to stop the activity of illegal armed formations” on the territory of the Chechen Republic, specialists have intercepted a telephone conversation that took place on the Nalchik-Groznyy line. The purpose of the conversa- tion was to coordinate unlawful actions and to draw into the conflict citizens of Kabarda-Balkaria and other North Caucasian republics in order to give a regional nature to the conflict. In the circumstances the recording of the conversation was passed on to competent bodies to identify the interlocutor. It has been established that the conversation took place between Sufiyan Beppayev, a citizen of the Republic of Kabarda-Balkaria, and Dzhokhar Dudayev. We offer to the attention of the media the content of the conversation between two retired generals without any comments so that the media can reach their own conclu- sion: Beppayev: Dear Dzhokhar, how are things? Dudayev: A wide front has already been opened. Beppayev: What do you mean “opened’’? Everyone is in Nazran. I’ve spoken to Zalimkhan. Dudayev: They will be most aggressive from the direc- tion of Nadterechnyy rayon. They have been blocked in the area of Dagestan. Beppayev: We have been told that, their chairman of parliament has been here. Even they were indignant: it should be done on the site, they gave a guarantee that not a single item of equipment will filter through from Dagestan. Dudayev: And it has filtered through and approached right up Gerdzel. And all this equipment came through Dagestan. Beppayev: Bastards. Dudayev: Bastards. And there has not been a single word from the Ingush leaders. The people there are rising, the Ingush and Dagestan people are rising but the leaders are sitting idle and keeping quiet. Beppayev: Cowards. Dudayev: The mean cowards. How did it go in the Confederation? This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Beppayev: Ten people, with our Karkayev among them, passed a whole lot of documents there. They'll head out tomorrow and the method they'll be using will be this: They'll meet the leaders of the republics here, whom they’ve accused of starting all this off, and then they'll make their way to you there in Groznyy. Then they'll send documents to Moscow that they should block all the roads, to keep the troops out. Dudayev: No one pays them any attention, Sufyan. Beppayev: Unfortunately, you're right. Dudayev: We need to open a front in the rear there. Beppayev: Well, that’s the next thing. Dudayev: Fire, fire, fire, fire, Sufyan, fire. In the heart, while they’re messing around here. It would be good to give them a jolt there. Beppayev: Yes. Dudayev: They're beasts of prey that don’t know wnen to stop. Meanness, treachery and sheer violence—we’'ll probably have to use the same methods against them, Sufyan. They won’t understand anything else. Beppayev: Yes, it'll come to that. Dudayev: It will. I can supply strategical data on the make-up of these groups, how many and where. And the same goes for how they will move, where in the rear they need to attack from, the best places in the rear to wade into them. The age-old tactic of the highlander is raid and retreat, raid and retreat, wear them down until they’re so terrified and scared that they croak it them- selves. Raid and retreat, raid and retreat Beppayev: Dzhokhar, we've heard that there’s a living ring around Groznyy and that it’s mainly made up of Russians. Dudayev: What living ring is that? Beppayev: Well, they say that 50,000 people have been mobilized and that they aren’t letting anyone into the city. Apparently there’s this living ring around Groznyy. Dudayev: Well, a living ring as such... (sentence unfin- ished). Our lawyer, Elza Sharipova, went on TV. A lot of women responded. Women are rallying to her call. They’re going to see the soldiers to clear up the situation with them and try to persuade them against starting a bloodbath because it wouldn’t do anyone any good. That’s one job being done, but as far as the leaders are concerned, the only obstacle in the way is the fact that the soldiers themselves aren’t happy about being the gendarmes of genocide. I think that there are a lot of people there, too, who understand that they don’t need this carnage. Beppayev: Unfortunately, they realize, but they are com- pelled to do it. RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 35 Dudayev: The are compelled to do it. But you, probably, have to talk to that former boss of yours. Tell him: “How is that you, stinker, are sending your soldiers to carnage or maybe you have redundant soldiers?” Beppayev: I have talked with them there several times and they swear that there are no soldiers of theirs there. Dudayev: How can they say there are not. All this is happening in his district. The equipment is also from his district. It was not brought from Africa, was it? Beppayev: All right. Dzhokhar, another question. What shall we do with the humanitarian aid? Dudayev: Well, humanitarian or any other, all will, of course, be useful. What was the decision taken by the congress of the Confederation of mountainous peoples of the Caucasus? Beppayev: It has not ended yet. The congress will end in Groznyy. Now, this is the decision: to approach gradu- ally until there, unless the issue is settled. [razreshit vopros] Dudayev: Who will not settle [razreshit]? Beppayev: Who does it—that is it—(they speak like this) {ITAR-TASS note]. Musa Shanibov begged them to move. It is not the confederation though, it is the congress of the peoples. Although, there were a lot from the confederation there, too. Only we, Balkars, were from outside the confederation. All the rest were mem- bers of the confederation. But the Ossetian said that if we do not give at this particular time, it will mean, we let it as it is. Because there are guys here who have a firm stand but there also is an attempt to deviate. The vice president of the Confederation, representing your country, also made a speech. He said that he had appealed three times to stop sitting and just talking and set to deeds. All in all, practical deeds are needed (as said). Well, there are some attempts of (does not end his thought). Well, on the whole, there are some rotten people in the leadership. It is all clear, They want to delay somehow, to talk and talk and do no practical business. That is how it is. We have this, unfortunately. But there are energetic people, too. The Dagestani party acts vigorously. Dudayev: They do act vigorously. Beppayev: Yes, yes. And this was their promise, they vowed. Perhaps the leaders themselves are not doing this but it may as well be that they are directing. Dudayev: The Dagestanis have gradually risen, all of them. The process is already under way there. It started from there. Beppayev: The Ossetians have also pledged their word that they will not let them go through their territory. But I do not know. At least, there were such words. A delegation from this confederation, including my man Karkayev, will meet with you, too. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 36 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS Dudayev: Take up a little bit of leadership there, Sufyan, so that it means business. When it starts there, we will feel easier here. Beppayev: Let us see. We are also trying our best. We have already launched rallies. We staged a protest rally today. But, to our great regret, these rallies lead nowhere. If only the whole world, but it comes (as says). But, anyway, in fact, the people are rising. Chechen Side Has ‘Specific Proposals’ LD1712222094 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 2150 GMT I7 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Groznyy December 18 TASS— The Chechen side has specific proposals on all issues pertaining to the conflict settlement, including on the disarmament of illegal armed groups, and is ready to announce them at any time, a Chechen presidential spokesman said on Saturday. The spokesman did not reveal the content of these proposals. At the same time, he made it plain that Moscow is waiting for them. He said the Chechen leadership was puzzled by the fact that it had found out about Moscow’s willingness to receive these proposals from Groznyy in order to avert fighting from media reports just an hour before the expiration of the deadline for surrendering arms. Yandarbiyev Urges People To Show ‘Courage’ LD1712221294 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 2141 GMT 17 Dec 94 {By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Groznyy December 18 TASS— Chechen Vice-President Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev called on the Chechen people to piuck up their “courage and remains calm in the face of the advancing aggression.” In his televised address to the nation broadcast at around midnight saturday, Yandarbiyev expressed the hope that “thanks to Allah, the imminent evil will pass by the Chechen people,” but at the same time stressed that “we need to be ready for any turn of events.” The statement followed Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev's telegram to Russian President Yeltsin, in which he confirmed his readiness to start negotiations with Russia at a proper ievel without any preconditions. In his telegram sent to Yeltsin at 20:05 on Saturday, Dudayev said he would personally head an official delegation to the talks. “I agree with your proposal to begin negotiations at a proper level without any precon- ditions and to personally head an official delegation of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeriya,” he said. Earlier today, Dudayev invited Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin to arrive in Groznyy for talks on FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Chechen settlement. He emphasised specifically that “if the meeting takes place, it should be held on a govern- ment level.” Yeltsin Calls for Territorial Administration LD1712202194 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1941 GMT 17 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 17 TASS— Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree on Saturday urging the government to set up within the next five days a “territorial administration” to coordinate the activity of federal executive bodies of power in the Chechen Republic, the presidential press service said. The administration will be headed by Vice-Prime Min- ister Nikolay Yegorov, who is also the Russian presi- dent’s special envoy to Chechnya. In an interview with ITAR-TASS on Friday, Vyacheslav Volkov, deputy head of the administration of the Rus- sian president, said that the new body will coordinate the work of the Interior Ministry, the counterintelligence service and economic agencies in Chechnya. Dudayev Orders Armed Formations To Resist LD1712201694 Moscow Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy in Russian 1900 GMT 17 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] Today an ultimatum was sent to Dzhokhar Dudayev summoning him to Mozdok for talks. But the Chechen president ignored the demand. He held a conference with [words indistinct] after which an order was issued to all armed formations to resist to the last drop of blood. Shumeyko’s Peace Initiative Assessed MK1712110094 Moscow KOMMERSANT-DAILY in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 3 [Report by Nika Stark: ““Vladimir Shumeyko’s Initiative. Two Speakers and Premier Will Continue President’s Cause”’} {[FBIS Translated Text] The development of the “Chechen situation” in Russian upper echelons is moving forward quickly. Hardly haa presidential address No. 2 to the Chechen people appeared, Vladimir Shumeyko came forward with a new peacemaking initia- tive the next morning. The proposal to create a “trium- virate on Chechnya’’ (Chernomyrdin-Rybkin- Shumeyko) cannot but spawn various versions especially at a time when the president continues to stay in the hospital while the conference of Security Council mem- bers is being chaired by the premier. According to an official version supported by Vladimir Shumeyko himself, Shumeyko’s initiative on calling a cease-fire beginning at 1500 on 16 December and setting up a Supervisory-Conciliatory Commission on Chechnya with wide-ranging control-administrative This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 functions and jointly chaired by the premier and the two speakers is nothing short of a “deepening” of Boris Yeltsin’s address made the day before yesterday. This version appears quite plausible, although it does raise some questions. In accordance with the widely used practices among the Russian top leadership, only the president has the right to such initiatives. Up to now, he has never shared this right with anyone. Of course, a voluntary transfer of the laurels of solver of the Chechen problem to Shumeyko can be attributed to the president’s ailment (the officially named eight-day term required for the recovery of Yeltsin’s nasal septum expired only yesterday). Never- theless, one more version appears quite plausible about the peacemaking initiative’s being not transferred, but grabbed. The possible authors of the “grabbing” are named in the announcement itself. At least two of them are recognized aspirants for the presidency, and it is a long wait until 1996. Strangely, yet another figure rather influential both on the federal and regional levels was not included in this list. The reason, possibly, is that Yuriy Luzhkov is not among Shumeyko’s friends. Besides, whereas the creation of the “troika” is a game, playing it was greatly facilitated by the mayor’s absence from Moscow—he was abroad throughout the recent Chechen develop- ments. It is hard to judge how spontaneous and local Shum- eyko’s initiatives are. The instant response by Dzhokhar Dudayev who, without any official talks, announced his orders to the Chechen detachments to cease fire, can indicate either that one of the three (or one of the “power” ministers tasked by them) contacted the Chechen leader in advance, or the latter’s exceptionally correct political reaction. And if the “troika” manages to solve the Chechen problem in the same way as they made do without the president in the evening conference of the Security Council, elections may occur sooner not only in Chechnya but also in Russia. ‘Strange’ Security Council Session Viewed MK1712125094 Moscow KOMMERSANT-DAILY in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 3 [Report by Ilya Buiavinov: “Ministers Leave Mozdok To Meet in Moscow”] [FBIS Translated Text] Around 1600 yesterday, news agencies reported that Nikolay Yegorov, Pavel Grachev, Viktor Yerin, and Sergey Stepashin left Mozdok for Moscow to attend a meeting of the Security Council. The meeting was expected to sum up the results of the one-week operation “to restore constitutional order” in Chechnya. Boris Yeltsin’s health appears to have changed drasti- cally during the day. As early as yesterday morning it RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 37 enabled the president to receive U.S. Vice President Albert Gore, but in the evening Boris Yeltsin was already unable to attend the planned Security Council meeting. As a result, the most inconceivable rumors spread around Moscow, while official sources reported that it was a meeting “of a number of Security Council mem- bers” under Viktor Chernomyrdin. It should be noted that previously not a single Security Council meeting was held without the president. Another strange thing is that the meeting was chaired not by Council Secretary Oleg Lobov (which would have been only natural in the president’s absence), but the prime minister. Apparently the answer is that Lobov and other Security Council specialists opposed large-scale military operations in Chechnya. As for yesterday’s meeting, it is clear that “the post-flight critique session” could well have had fully negative consequences for the power ministers and the counterintelligence chief (rumors have it that his position is most unenviabie), unless someone had deliberately planned to drag out the military operation, of course. At the same time, the Security Council’s proposals are not binding on the president. He alone is entitled to make final decisions, which are subsequently given the form of edicts and directives. If Boris Yeltsin has his own plans with regard to Chechnya which are at odds with the Security Council’s proposals, yesterday’s meeting may well not affect Moscow’s Chechen policy in any way. Something of this kind has already taken place. Another option is also possible. If the decision made by yesterday’s meeting is nonetheless put into life, this would mean that Viktor Chernomyrdin’s clout has seri- ously increased as a result of the Chechen crisis. But, by the same token, the prime minister would share the responsibility that was previously shouldered by Boris Yeltsin alone. It is also possible that the prime minister and the chiefs of the Federal Assembly chambers may have used the occasion to discuss Vladimir Shumeyko’s initiative, which calls for a triumvirate to be formed to resolve all problems concerning Chechnya. Since the range of such problems could be fairly wide, the triumvirate’s clout could also be quite significant. [Article includes the following boxed commentary by the Political Depart- ment] A resumption of large-scale combat operations by the federal troops after the ultimatum expires 18 December looks problematic. Until now the military has not destroyed any “Grad” multiple-rocket launcher or elim- inated any significant number of the enemy's armored hardware, although the sites where the rocket launchers are deployed should have been located and the launchers disabled before the operation started. The ABC’s of tactics required that the “‘iilegal armed formations” should have been localized outside Groznyy, but now they can at any moment attack the Russian forces from This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 38 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS the rear, something that might well be a major turning point in the current situation. In these conditions, the most effective operation for the special services would be a “neutralization” of Dzhokhar Dudayev, a symbol of anti-Russian sentiments in Chech- nya. By some accounts, the military is leaning precisely toward this option, in the belief that this would help to ease tension in the region and to regain the strategic initiative. Kovalev Appeals to Yeltsin, Rybkin LD1712190294 Moscow Russian Television Network in Russian 1700 GMT 17 Dec 94 {““Appeal” by Sergey Kovalev, the president’s human rights envoy and chairman of the State Duma Commis- sion for Human Rights, to Russian President Boris Yeltsin and State Duma Speaker Ivan Rybkin, in Groznyy on 17 December—read by announcer, from the “Vesti” newscast] [FBIS Translated Text] We are alarmed by reports about preparations for a missile and bomb attack on Groznyy. We do not intend to leave the town until the conflict has been resolved by peaceful means. With our own eyes we could see destroyed civil facilities, and we have received information about many victims among the civilian population. We rely on the wisdom of the Russian leaders, who should exhaust to the end the way of a peace settlement of a difficult political problem. Yesterday we received information about OMON”: [Spe- cial Purpose Militia Detachment’s] excesses in the set- tlement of Osinovskaya. Today we were watching destructions in the settlement of Pervomayskaya. We ask you, Boris Nikolayevich, and you, Ivan Petrov- ich, and all others to use all their influence to prevent new victims. Shanibov Issues Resignation Statement LD1712205594 Moscow Radio Rossii Network in Russian 2000 GMT 17 Dec 94 {FBIS Translated Text] In a statement circulated in Nalchik, Musa Shanibov, president of the Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus, stated the reasons for his resignation: deteriorating health after an incident in Abkhazia in 1993 in which he was wounded, and the fact that “a question has arisen in the past few days among the most active members of the Confederation of Peoples of the Caucasus about the need to provide urgent and fundamental help to Chechnya. Questions like this can be resolved by new forces.” Moscow’s Response to Telegram Anticipated LD1812094694 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 0903 GMT 18 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 [FBIS Translated Text] Groznyy, 18 Dec—Dzhokhar Dudayev is in Groznyy and is prepared to start talks with Moscow at any time without preconditions. This was confirmed today to the ITAR-TASS correspondent by the head of Dzhokhar Dudayev’s press service. “Our position is invariable: The leadership of the Chechen Republic is prepared at any time and without precondi- tions to start talks at the appropriate level,” he stated. Official Groznyy is now waiting for Moscow’s repsonse to yesterday’s telegrams in which Dzhokhar Dudayev expressed his consent to head a Chechen delegation and start talks with a Russian delegation headed by Viktor Chernomyrdin on settling the conflict in the Chechen Republic. The head of Dudayev’s press service said that the Chechen side “has a package of constructive proposals on all controversial issues, including the very compli- cated problem of the disarmament of illegal units.” The situation in Groznyy and the republic remains tense, but there is hope that the combat operations, which were halted unilaterally by Dzhokhar Dudayev, will not resume. The Chechen president is working “hard as usual in the presidential palace,” the head of his press service said. ‘No More Answers’ to Dudayev’s Telegrams LD1812193794 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1924 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 18 TASS— A Russian presidential press service official said on Sunday that “there will be no more answers to (Chechen President) Dzhokhar Dudayev’s telegrams.” The official said that Dudayev’s latest telegram to Pres- ident Boris Yeltsin, in which he said that he was “ready to receive (in Groznyy) a plenipotentiary representative” of the Russian president for talks, did not give an answer to President Yeltsin’s peace offer. Earlier today, Yeltsin urged Dudayev to meet “without delay” with his representatives—Vice-Prime Minister Nikolay Yegorov and counterintelligence chief Sergey Stepashin—in Mozdok on Sunday. In his telegram sent to Dudayev, Yeltsin stressed that “if an appropriate document on a cease-fire is signed on Sunday with your personal participation, I shall consider it as proof of your serious intention to normalise the situation, to restore peace and calm in the republic for the sake of all peoples of Russia.” Dudayev responded by saying that he was ready to hold talks with Yeltsin’s representatives in Groznyy, without saying whether or not he would meet his envoys in Mozdok. But speaking at a news conference in Groznyy several hours later, the rebel Chechen leader rejected Yeltsin's This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 offer. As the Chechen “president, I can hold talks only on a high level,” he said, adding that the Chechen people “will not allow me to meet with Yegorov or anyone else.” The Russian president's press service official pointed out that the Russian Security Council decisions aimed at restoring constitutional order and law, and enforce rights and freedoms in the Chechen Republic will be imple- mented in full. Call to Move ‘Frontline’ to Moscow Denied LD1812163594 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1603 GMT 18 Dec 94 {By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Groznyy December 18 TASS— Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev’s spokesman denied on Sunday media reports that the Chechen leader had allegedly urged to “move the frontline to Moscow, to the Kremlin.” The spokesman denounced the reports, describing them as a “canard” designed to once again “‘vilify the Chechen people and their president.” He also told ITAR-TASS that “no airfield, which was allegedly bombed by Russian warplanes last night, exists in Shali.” Earlier today, the press service of the Russian Govern- ment quoted Dudayev as urging Chechen people in his radio address on Sunday to “clear the land of filth,” “to spill the blood of those bastards,” and “move the front- line to Moscow, to the Kremlin.” Operations Against Russian Army Denied LD1812172194 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1634 GMT 18 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Groznyy December 18 TASS— The Chechen military leaders said on Sunday that all Chechen troops strictly abide by Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev’s order and do not conduct combat operations against Russian forces. At the same time, they said that incidents continue to occur. On Sunday, Russian troops fired their artillery guns at the village of Petropavlovskaya. As a result, one person was wounded. Shells destroyed his home and set it ablaze. They said the house was still burning. A similar incident occurred on Saturday when the two sides exchanged missile attacks in the western direction near the villages of Bamut and Achkhoy-Martan. No casualties were reported. Dudayev Rejects Meeting With Yeltsin Envoy LD1812190394 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1840 GMT 18 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 39 {[FBIS Translated Text] Groznyy, 18 Dec—Dzhokhar Dudayev has rejected Boris Yeltsin’s proposal to meet without delay with his special envoy, Deputy Prime Minister Nikolay Yegorov, and Federal Counterintelli- gence Service director Sergey Stepasin in Mozdok. Speaking at a news conference that took place this evening, he claimed the Chechen people “would not allow him to meet with Yegorov or anyone else.” “As president,” Dzhokhar Dudayev said, “I can only hold talks at a senior level.” He said that to avoid accusations that he is allowing an escalation of the conflict, he had agreed to receive the Russian president’s representative in Groznyy. Dudayev News Conference Detailed LD1812212394 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 2055 GMT 18 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Sharip Asuyev] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Groznyy December 19 TASS— Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev refused to meet Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s envoys in Mozdok, North Ossetia, but said he was ready to hold talks with his emissary in Groznyy in order to avoid further esca- lation of the conflict. Speaking at a news conference in Groznyy on Sunday, Dudayev said that as the Chechen “president, I can hold talks only on a high level.” Yeltsin’s representatives in Chechnya include Vice- Prime Minister Nikolay Yegorov and counterintelli- gence chief Sergey Stepashin. Dudayev also said that the Chechen people “will not allow me to meet with Yegorov or anyone else.” Earlier today, he sent a telegram to the Russian president signalling his readiness to hold talks with his represen- tatives in Groznyy. However, prior to that, Dudayev had indicated that he would meet only with President Yeltsin or Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin. Dudayev also stressed that such talks should be “thor- oughly prepared.” However, a Kremlin aide said on Sunday that “there will be no more responses to Dzhokhar Dudayev’s tele- grams.” The aide said that Dudayev’s latest telegram to President Boris Yeltsin, in which he said that he was “ready to receive (in Groznyy) a plenipotentiary representative” of the Russian president for talks, was not a proper response to President Yeltsin’s peace offer. Dudayev described relations between Russia and Chechnya as an “undeclared war” and “open armed aggression.” He said that Russian warplanes bombed four targets on Sunday, including the television and radio broadcasting centre in Groznyy and the village of This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 40 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS Dolinskiy. He said the number of casualties is growing every day, but their exact number is unknown. Dudayev said it was impossible to make forecasts for the future, adding that the fate of the republic and its status “can and should be determined only by the Chechen people.” Soskovets, Others Cited on Chechnya Situation LD1812151094 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1415 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, Dec 18 (INTER- FAX)—The operation to restore law and order in Chechnya will be implemented to the end in complete accordance with the Russian president’s decree, First Vice Premier Oleg Soskovets told the Russian govern- ment’s headquarters for coordinating the work of the executive bodies on Sunday. In the military’s estimates, Dudayev’s supporters have two or three helicopters and 20 armored vehicles, said Chief of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff Mikhail Kolesnikov. They have no aircraft, and experi- ence a shortage of fire arms and ammunition, he added. Minister for Civil Defense and Emergency Situations Sergey Shoygu said that the number of refugees had increased to 14,000. He also said that 2,000 tonnes of humanitarian loads would be airlifted to Mozdok for the Chechen population on Sunday through the Ministry for Emergency Situations. Five thousand more tonnes of humanitarian aid will arrive in Mozdok shortly. A representative of the Interior Ministry told the confer- ence that 9 armored vehicles, dozens of fire arms and 25 kilograms of drugs had been confiscated in Chechnya by Sunday morning; 1,728 cars had been checked, and passenger and cargo trains had been examined. Outside Chechnya, the Interior Ministry and Federal Counterin- telligence Service are exercising control over the leaders of the Chechen criminal groupings. Dudayev Forces Rebuff Russian Tank Attack LD1812182594 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1711 GMT 18 Dec 94 {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Groznyy, Dec 18 (Interfax)— The Russian troops tried to launch a tank attack on the Dudayev positions near the Cossack village of Per- vomayskaya and the village of Dolinskiy north of Groznyy on Sunday. Our correspondent reports from Groznyy with reference to Chechen military sources, that after the volunteer units put two tanks out of action, the Russian tank column retreated to the initial positions on top of the Terskiy range. In the south-western direction (from Ingushetia), the Russian Interior Ministry’s special armored units tried to enter the village of Bamut 50 kilometers from FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Groznyy, the Chechen armed forces’ general headquar- ters told Interfax. The voluntary units put four armored personnel carriers out of action, after which the Russian special unit retreated to the initial positions, says Groznyy. The Chechen side alleges that “several Russian servicemen were killed during fighting.” Meanwhile, the Russian military aviation continued to deliver missile strikes on the Chechen voluntary units in the afternoon December '8. Our correspondent reports that air strikes were mostly delivered on the positions north of Groznyy. The Chechen armed forces’ general headquarters told Interfax that “the Russian artillery destroyed three houses in the Cossack village of Petropavlovskaya, 10 kilometers north of Groznyy.” Dudayev Asks Turkish President To Mediate LD1812184594 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1829 GMT 18 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Aleksey Yerovchenkov] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Nicosia December 18 TASS— Rebel Chechen leader Dzhokhar Dudayev asked Turkish President Suleyman Demirel to facilitate a cease-fire in the fighting in Chechnya, Turkish Television said on Sunday [18 December]. It also said that Demirel had conveyed Dudayev’s appeal to Russian President Boris Yeltsin and called on the Russian leader to halt fire in order to find a political solution to the conflict. Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller sent a message to Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, informing him about Turkey’s position on the Chechen conflict. She pointed out that the Turkish people are closely watching the events in Chechnya and stressed the need to prevent a new bloodshed and avoid casualties among civilians. Russian Troops Concentrating North of Groznyy LD1912153194 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1516 GMT 19 Dec 94 [FBIS 7ranscribed Text] Groznyy, Dec 19 (Interfax)— Since Monday [19 December] morning Russian troops have been concentrating forces and means to the north of Groznyy in the direction of the Dolinskaya settlement, Interfax was told by a spokesman for the Chechen military headquarters. He said that the positions of Dudayev volunteers are being shelled. Meanwhile, electricity supplies resumed to those areas of Groznyy which were dark on Sunday. Earlier, planes had put out of action the electricity station in the area of the Terek Mountain Range. The central channel of Chechen television resumed broadcasting for a short period. Broadcasting is mainly conducted on a reserve channel. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 An Interfax correspondent reports from Groznyy that municipal services continue to function in the city, streets are even being cleaned. A public rally in support of Dzhokhar Dudayev continues on the central square. Some shops and the central marketplace are working in the capital. Air Raid Reportedly Mounted Near Groznyy LD1912062894 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 0547 GMT 19 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] Moscow, 19 Dec (ITAR- TASS)—At least two powerful explosions rocked Groznyy last night during a raid on the Chechen capital by the Russian Air Force. According to a report from the ITAR-TASS correspondent in Groznyy, the missile and bombing raid was aimed at the area where the house of Dzhokhar Dudayev and his family is located. In a number of districts window panes were blown out by the blasts. By morning no reports of casualties had been received. In addition, according to the Chief Staff of the Chechnya Armed Forces, at about 0300 [0000 GMT] an air raid was mounted also on the suburbs of Shali (some 20 km south-east of Groznyy) where Dudayev’s tank regiment is located. No official report from the Russian side concerning the night bombing raids has been received as yet. Overall, no visible changes have occurred in the situa- tion in Groznyy. Late on Sunday evening transmissions by Channels 1 and 2 of Russian Television were resumed. The essential services in the city are func- tioning normally. The situation in Groznyy and in the Chechen Republic as a whole is profoundly worrying many Russians. Jour- nalists from Moscow, including correspondents of VECHERNYAYA MOSKVA, MOSKOVSKIY KOMSOMOLETS, and MOSKOVSKIYE NOVOSTI who are in Groznyy have appealed to the leaders of Chechnya and Russia to end combat actions and sit down to talks. The appeal, which they have transmitted to the ITAR-TASS correspondent, contains the call not to place at risk the lives of completely innocent people and the women, children, and old people left in the city. Last night the ITAR-TASS correspondent’s office ia Groznyy received a telephone message from Russian Federation Council Deputy Yuriy Lodkin, who con- veyed via our correspondent a request to Dzhokhar Dudayev to show mercy to Lodkin’s fellow countryman Private Sergey Volchek from Bryansk and his colleagues who have been taken prisoner in Chechnya. Caucasian Confederation Set To Aid Chechnya LD1912120294 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1145 GMT 19 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow. Dec 19. (Interfax)— The Deputy Chairman of the parliament of the Confed- eration of Caucasian Peoples (CCP) Denga Khalidov has RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 41 confirmed that the CCP decided to set up headquarters “for giving comprehensive aid to Chechnya and for organizing the spontaneous movement of volunteers.” As he explained to Interfax, such headquarters were set up in localities “where the CCP has real influence - from Dagestan to Abkhazia.” According to Khalidov, such headquarters were set up in Makhachkala and Khasav-Yurt (Dagestan), Nalchik (Kabardino-Balkaria), Maikop (Adigeya), Sukhumi (Abkhazia), Nazran (Ingushetia), Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia) and Cherkassk (Karachayevo-Cherkessia). As Khalidov said, the directive to set up headquarters may have been signed by the CCP chief of staff Amin Zekhov. The chairman of the CCP parliament Ali Aliev did not sign the document (Interfax’s note: on setting up head- quarters), but he signed the resolution on setting up such headouarters, issued by the recent CCP congress, Kha- lidov said. According to him, “more than one thousand people” have been despatched to Chechnya through CCP head- quarters. “We shall continue to be guided by the congress’s resolutions and help the Chechen Republic in every way possible, in organizing the movement of volunteers too,” Khalidov said. With reference to Saturday’s resignation of the CCP President Musa Shanibov Khalidov made it clear that his stand began to differ from the attitude of “most CCP leaders.” “In connection with the events developing in Chechnya he evidently finds it hard to take decisions that require resolve, consistency and the like,” Khalidov said. He pointed out, however, that it is his personal opinion, since he had not discussed this matter with Shanibov himself. “Shanibov did a lot of good at the time when the CCP was establishing itself, particularly during developments in Abkhazia,” Khalidov said. “He has done enough, considering his age.” In the meantime, judging by what Shanibov himself said, he resigned because of his health condition, which dete- riorated as a result of a wound he received in Abkhazia last year. Moreover, Shanibov said, in the past few days CCP activists “again raised the issue of urgently giving Chechnya radical aid,” and “‘new strength is needed” to resolve such issues. The CCP presidium decided that the emergency congress of Caucasian peoples will resume its work on Saturday, Khalidov said. No Nuclear Weapons in Chechnya MM1612153694 Moscow IZVESTIYA in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 1 {Unattributed report: ““No Nuclear Weapons in Chech- nya’’} This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 42 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS [FBIS Translated Text] The claim that there are nuclear weapons in the possession of D. Dudayev’s military formations was decisively refuted at the Russian Feder- ation Defense Ministry Main Directorate that monitors these weapons. “*All our warheads and bombs are where they should be,” we were told at the Defense Ministry. ““We know every single one of them. There were and are no nuclear weapons in Chechnya, as we have stated repeatedly.” Migration Service Coping With Refugee Influx LD1912131494 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1228 GMT 19 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 19 ITAR- TASS—Russian migration services in regions neigh- bouring on the Chechen Republic have registered 12,577 people as refugees from the Chechen Republic since December 8, 1994, according to the press secretary of the Federal Migration Service. In Dagestan, the number of refugees from Chechnya has exceeded 8.5 thousand. All of them have been provided with temporary lodgings. New tents with warm lining, blankets, bed linen and warm clothes have been prepared for the refugees, and the number of people in need of humanitarian aid is being ascertained, according to the heads of Dagestan’s local administrations. The Federal Migration Service press centre added that a special operation group has been set up in the city of Khasav-Yurt to provide accommodation for refugees and help those willing to reach Russia’s seven regions which are ready to receive forced migrants from Chech- nya. The overwhelming number of migrants from the Chechen Republic, however, are reluctant to travel far and intend to bide their time in areas adjacent on their native land. Kabardino-Balkaria is now providing refuge to 160 people from the armed conflict zone. Some 600 people have turned for help to migration services located in the Stavropol territory. Some of them have been accommodated in the areas set apart for temporary residence, the rest have been expedited to other regions of Russia. In the Ingush Republic, a Nazran migration service official, Aina Barakoyeva told ITAR-TASS that the service registers up to 80 migrating families a day, the most its tiny staff can cope with. Tens of people are awaiting their turn in a long queue. By 11.00 on Monday the service had registered 856 families or 4,988 persons. The Federal Migration Service of Russia has undertaken to render material assistance to, and help resettle people fieeing from Chechnya in centres and temporary resi- dence areas across Russia. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 The federal service has provided humanitarian aid to people in the areas adjacent on Chechnya, including food parcels with cereals and meat preserves. Each of three districts in the Ingush republic has got 500 kilograms of preserves and 800 kilograms of cereals. Federal migration service chief Tatiana Regent told itar-tass today that many residents of Chechnya are reluctant to travel far for fear of being barred from returning home. She assured that “not a single person will be transported out of chechnya against his or her will” and that “following the normalisation of the situ- ation in Chechnya, the federal service will work to create conditions for the return all of those willing to their former place of residence”’. This statement came in response to the official statement circulated by Chechen television with reference to Dzhokhar Dudayev which alleged that Russia was inter- ested in making civilians leave the Chechen Republic in order to be further assimilated in Russia. The official Groznyy said “today’s migration is akin to the 1944 deportation, and none of those who now leaves the republic will be allowed to return”. Ilyushenko Interviewed on Chechnya LD1812003394 [FBIS Editorial Report] Moscow Russian Television Network in Russian at 2035 on 17 December broadcasts an 18-minute recorded program entitled “Chechnya: A Legal Vacuum.” The program consists of an interview with acting Russian Procurator General Aleksey Ilyush- enko by Andrey Pishchayev. Ilyushenko recalls that the then Russian parliament ruled the presidential and Supreme Soviet elections in Chechnya in 1991 illegal and, for three years now, the Constitution and other laws of the Russian Federation have not been observed in Chechnya. Ilyushenko adds: “The question is, how to achieve a situation where the Russian Constitution and Russian laws are observed in Chechnya. The law does not envisage any mechanism for this, and here, I believe, both the Federation Council and the State Duma have to bring their influence to bear now that the President has done the same. On 8 December the Federation Council adopted a decision instructing the Russian Procurator General’s office to check and assess the actions of officials who had been, I quote, party to the events in November and December 1994 in the Chechen Republic. Unfortunately, here only the second part of the problem is addressed. We cannot assess these actions because first, one has to sort out what has been happening in the Chechen Republic for the past three years, and not just in November and December 1994, when the Federation Council suddenly addressed the issue and started dealing with it.” Ilyushenko goes on to say that many officials, including Sergey Shakhray, had made applications to the Procu- rator General’s office with regard to crime in Chechnya. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 He adds: “Unfortunately, we have no means to take any measures because for the procuracy to start taking mea- sures and giving assessments it has, for a start, to get to the Chechen Republic. Only when we can discover on the spot what is going on there, only then can we give an assessment. But in these years we had no chance to do so. At present, in terms of the Russian Constitution and law, there is no procuracy, no Interior Ministry in the sense we understand it, no Federal Counterintelligence Service there, and so on. In practical terms, we just cannot use any legal levers and means to restore order there.” Ilyushenko then confirms that some Russian commercial banks granted Chechens big loans, which have never been returned. He says there have been other underhand financial deals, and counterfeiting is thriving in Chech- nya. In 1993 nearly ten billion rubles worth of counter- feit banknotes were confiscated in Russia, of which four billion were linked to Chechens. In 1994, one in three persons prosecuted for counterfeiting was a Chechen. He adds: “I can say that Chechnya is one of the main hotbeds of criminal mafia in this country. According to the data from the Main Directorate for Criminal Inves- tigations of the Interior Ministry, at present over 1,200 Chechens in Chechnya are wanted in connection with taking hostages, committing murders, extortion, banking fraud, and other serious crimes.” He goes on to say that 64 Chechens were wanted for committing serious crimes in Moscow and Moscow Oblast, 15 in St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg Oblast, 51 in Dagestan, 87 in Stavropol Kray, 32 in Rostov Oblast, and 13 in North Ossetia. Many criminals are finding refuge in Chechnya after committing murders and other crimes in neighbouring regions. He adds: “The fact is that the present situation in Chechnya is undoubtedly affecting the entire south of Russia in terms of crime. In Moscow alone, we and the Interior Ministry have now instituted criminal proceed- ings in 1,292 cases involving Chechens, with 116 people facing criminal charges. In St. Petersburg the figures are similar.” Ilyushenko goes on to talk about Chechens’ involvement in several cases of hostage taking in southern Russia 1991-94, saying: “In some of these cases we have testimonies from criminals admitting they received direct orders from Chechen special services.” Ilyushenko then gives figures for attacks on goods and passenger trains, presumably in Chechnya, 2nd says that it has finally been decided to use other routes bypassing Chechnya. Asked if any criminal proceedings will be instituted following claims by Federation Council deputy Viktor Kurochkin about bomb strikes on civilian targets in Chechnya, Ilyushenko says: “I take full responsibility for saying that as soon as normal order is restored in Chechnya, the necessary number of investigators and procurators will be sent. But in order to find out how and on what targets the bombings were conducted one has to be there. Until order is restored I cannot send my people, investigators, and procurators because, unlike the Fed- eration Council deputy, they do not enjoy deputy’s RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 43 immunity. One should not interpret this as the procu- racy’s refusal to carry out its functions—but we ask all the powers that be—the president, the government, the Federal Assembly—to restore order there. Only after that can they demand that the procuracy, the Interior Ministry and the Federal Counterintelligence Service bring to book all those guilty, including those guilty of any illegal bombings that there may have been. But I do not know, and you do not know, and nobody can say anything objectively at this stage, I assure you.” Ilyushenko goes on to say that criminal proceedings have been instituted in two cases connected with the advance- ment of troops toward Chechnya in Dagestan and Ingushetia, saying: ““You know that there was a conflict in Dagestan, in which some servicemen were taken hostage and later released. In the Ingush Republic, when the troops were advancing there, armed people were firing on them, using women and children asa shield. We have instituted criminal proceedings following our inquiry, and an investigation is now under way. As you know, the president of Ingushetia claimed that the troops started firing on civilians without provocation. As it happens, the troops were indeed advancing along a road in accordance with their orders, without disturbing the peace of the population, but their way was blocked by concrete slabs, buses, cars, people, and so on. And they were fired upon point-blank from behind these obstacles. As a result, the troops returned fire on several occasions. Some people were wounded and killed on both sides. I mean the people who were preventing the troops from moving forward, but several servicemen were also seri- ously wounded. “Another example I would like to adduce: When some vehicles were stopped, they included a military medical column. The crowd that stopped them plundered the vehicles, overturning them and so on. They also took three women medics out of the vehicles and beat them up te such an extent that they are all currently in intensive care, one with a broken spine.” Ilyushenko then refutes reports that the Confederation of the Peoples of the Caucasus has resolved to send volun- teers to Chechnya. He says the reports were based on a forgery, adding: ““The procuracy has already completed its inquiry and instituted criminal proceedings. We started the inquiry as soon as the report was shown on television. What happened was this: INTERFAX faxed a document, which purported to say that in accordance with a decision taken at a congress of the Confederation of the Peoples of the Caucasus, headquarters were being set up in several towns, including Rostov, Krasnodar, Stavropol, Lazarevskoye near Sochi, etc., 15 in all. But when we started to check the fax it transpired that the fax was made on the notepaper of the president of the Confederation of the Peoples of the Caucasus. It should have had—I stress that it had none—a signature of the chairman of parliament. But there was no such signature. A bit lower, below the text, it said correct, some name was given and there was a stamp on top of the name—a This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 44 RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS stamp from the Congress of the Kabarda People. So the forgery was obvious. It was very easy to have a look at all the inconsistencies and understand that it was not a document to be trusted. But we went further and I instructed the procurator of Kabarda-Balkarian Republic to ask for explanations from President of the Confed:ration Musa Shanibov. Shanibov presented the explanaiions and also the genuine documents—the res- olutions adopted by the confederation—which do not contain the item in question. In this connection I would iike vo say that this does not mean that mass media are filing unchecked reports on purpose. In particular, we found out in our inquiry that it was just a case of not paying attention to details.” Ilyushenko concludes by repeating that the Constitution and other laws have to be observed throughout the Russian Federation. Ingush President Calls for Troop Withdrawal MM1612211594 Moscow SOVETSKAYA ROSSIYA in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 1 [Interview with Republic of Ingushetia President Ruslan Aushev by Nadezhda Garifullina, datelined “yesterday, during a recess of the Federation Council session”: ““‘It Is Impossible To Subdue a People””} {[FBIS Translated Text] Yesterday the Federation Council discussed the issue of the situation in Chechnya in closed session. In the recess I asked Ingush Republic President Ruslan Aushev to answer a few questions. [Garifullina] Ruslan Sultanovich, as far as is known from press reports, you are the only leader of a North Cauca- sian republic not to sign the Appeal to the Russian president on the imposition of order in Chechnya, using every means to do so, and you have a special stance on this issue. Also well known are your words to the effect that the Chechens and the Ingush are one people—the Veinakh—and the protest of the citizens of your republic over the strong-arm solution of the Chechen problem is natural. [Aushev} First, even if the Chechen people did not enter the equation, and such a decision had been adopted against, for example, the Kabardino-Balkar, the Dages- tan, or any other people, I would have acted in the same way. Why do all quarrels which arise, including over a difference of views or positions (for example, Groznyy sees development from one angle, Moscow from another) have without fail to be resolved by coercive methods, and not by political means? That is to say, it is necessary to sit down at the negotiating table and monot- onously, at length, stubbornly, and painstakingly, using conciliation commissions and procedures of some kind—as is written in the Constitution—resolve the problems and untangle the knots. Yes, heads of republic appealed to the president, but I think—I am sure—that many did not actually perfectly understand /what/ [published in boldface] they were FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 signing, and are now complaining about what has been done. The strong-arm solution of this problem was virtually “‘okayed.” [Garifullina] You evidently possess reliable information. How do you assess the situation? What is happening in Chechnya right now? [Aushev] War, war of the most open kind. We, at least, know this. First, troops marched through Ingushetia, not standing on ceremony. And today, when I asked a candidate for the post of constitutional judge whether sending in troops is constitutional, he simply did not reply. The only thing that he could say was: “I am for a peaceful resolution of the problem.” But if troops are sent through Ingushetia, a federation component, I, as president, have to explain to citizens what these troops are. I ask what their task is, and again I receive no reply. The troops who marched through Ingushetia used weapons in violation of all rules and norms. We had five people killed and 22 wounded, and homes were destroyed. Having been sent into the Chechen Republic the Army has since 13 December been carrying out full-blooded military operations. There have been very many casual- ties on both sides. People are being killed and equipment is being destroyed. Virtually the entire people in Chechnya have risen up. They talk of disarming illegal armed formations, but I cannot imagine how they will now disarm the whole people. From 15-year-old boys— and even younger—everyone who can hold a gun, including women, have risen to the defense of their republic. And I know the mood of the people—they are ready to stand fast to the end. Volunteers are arriving from all the republics, the Chechen Republic enjoys the moral support of virtually everyone. | was informed by my vice president that a rally is being held in Ingushetia at which around 50,000 people gathered; the Ingush are appealing to the authorities to stop the bloodshed. I know for a fact that soldiers in the Russian forces are going there reluctantly, that they are ready to turn back and leave today, if the political will is shown and political decisions made. [Garifullina] What do you see as the way out of the current situation now that the conflict has gone so far and so much blood has been spilt? [Aushev] The bloodshed must be stopped, the troops must be withdrawn, and this should not be considered a defeat or a humiliation. Of course, it is clear that the Army will reach Groznyy, that military might there will be constantly increased; the country is large and its might is great. But who knows even one example in history whereby it was possible to destroy a people? In the name of what is blood being spilled? After all, come what may, it will be necessary to sit down at the negotiating table. And in this situation any leader who himself comes in or is sent in will, whatever happens, be This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 in the eyes of the population an enemy of his own people, and no one will recognize him! Therefore—let us have only talks, high-level talks. [Garifullina} Have you been in touch with Dudayev? What is his position? [Aushev] Yes, we have been in touch. His inclination before the troops were sent in was to hold talks; he even tried to do this, and went to meet with Grachev. He sensed that troops were going to be sent in and many people would be killed. Even today he speaks about this [talks]. But the troops must be withdrawn. [Garifullina} How do you assess Ruslan Khasbulatov’s peacekeeping mission? {Aushev] His peacekeeping mission? You see where it has led. It is hard for me to explain what his role is, but all his slogans about coming as a peacemaker have led to bloodshed. [Garifullina] Some people claim that the Russian Army supports the Chechen opposition. Is this true? {[Aushev] Of course it has been supporting it! Who do you think gave it weapons, equipment, mercenaries, and money? All this was official, and now it has become known that this was indeed one of the options for solving the Chechen problem—through arming the opposition. Galazov Condemns Exploitation of Crisis LD1912153994 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1528 GMT 19 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Valeriy Shanayev] {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Vladikavkaz December 19 TASS—“I am categorically against those destructive forces which are ready to use the Chechen tragedy in their political aims. Emissaries of various kind who come to Chechnya, are only stirring up the conflict,” Akhsarbek Galazov, president of North Ossetia, told a meeting of the presidiums of the government and the parliament of the republic. The president returned from Moscow where he partici- pated in the work of closed meetings of the upper house of the Russian parliament. According to the leader of North Ossetia, the Russian president, the government and the Federal Assembly of Russia must have a single, clear and reliable program of action in the entire north Caucasian region aimed at untying the “Chechen knot”. North Ossetia stands for a peaceful settlement of the Chechen problem on the basis of the constitution of the Russian Federation, Akhsarbek Galazov stressed. The Republic of North Ossetia which created favorable conditions for the beginning of a political dialogue between the working commissions of the governments of the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic for RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 45 the settlement of the current crisis, proposes to the Russian and the Chechen sides to continue the sus- pended talks in Vladikavkaz at any level, the president of North Ossetia pointed out. Dagestan Calls For Peaceful Solution LD1612221494 Moscow Russian Television Network in Russian 2000 GMT 16 Dec 94 [Report by M. Tumanova; from the “Vesti” newscast] {[FBIS Translated Text] At the Dagestan permanent mission in Moscow today, journalists were given an explanation of the official position on Chechnya, Dages- tan’s next-door neighbor. Year after year Dagestan was suffering from conflicts on the other side of the little- enforced border. People there have already got used to communications that have been destroyed, disrupted supplies of the most vital things, and agitation among the Akkints Chechens who live on Dagestan territory. At present, the Akkints have organized a continuous rally near the settlement of Khasav-Yurt at which they are demanding an end to the hostilities in Chechnya. Volunteers among the Akkints Chechens are being called up from the villages. Relations between the Dagestan authorities and the Dudayev regime have always been very cold, but now everyone in Dagestan demands that the Chechen issue be resolved peacefully. Dagestan minister for nationalities Magomed-Salikh Gusayev said it was impossible to seize Groznyy without many thousands of victims, and that it is not clear at all who will govern Chechnya if Dudayev is toppled, and that the conflict, if Groznyy falls, will rekindle anew. The best way is the way of exhausting talks. In this connec- tion Gusayev supported today’s statement by Vladimir Shumeyko. Fight today and peace tomorrow is not the way things are done in the Caucasus, the minister said. Here, if there is a war, it is for a long time. Deputy Says Chechnya Policy ‘Uncoordinated’ LD1912150194 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1432 GMT 19 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS parliamentary correspondent Ivan Novikov] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 19 TASS— Actions of Russia’s federal authorities in the Chechen conflict are in many respects uncoordinated, Vladimir Bauer, chairman of the committee on the organization of the State Duma’s work, who headed a working delega- tion of the lower house of the Russian parliament which carried out a peacekeeping mission in Ingushetia. Vladimir Bauer spoke at a news conference here today devoted to the resuiis of this trip. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. ae RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS The head of the delegation called the republic of Ingush- etia a “zone of relative calm” noting at the same time that a number of civilians were killed in the districts directly adjoining the conflict zone. According to Vladimir Bauer, the federal authorities “are not coping with their tasks concerning the return of refugees to Ingushetia”. At present 65,000 refugees are staying in this republic many of whom arrived from Chechnya but the authorities “do not tackle their prob- lems seriously”, he noted. Russian servicemen stationed in Ingushetia produce a painful impression. “Their moral and psychological spirit is not high,” the deputy of the State Duma said. “It was easy for the delegation to associate with simple people but rather difficult—with representatives of the federal authorities, in particular with Nikolay Yegorov and Vyacheslav Mikhaylov. We were not simply admitted to them,” Vladimir Bauer pointed out. According to him, the Chechen side does not give up attempts to look for a peaceful way out of the present situation, and to prove it he cited a telephoned telegram from Groznyy to the State Duma in which a representa- tive of the Foreign Ministry of the Chechen Republic invited deputies to arrive at the conflict zone for talks. Cossacks Urge ‘Full Force,’ Offer To Help MM1612205794 Moscow TRUD in Russian 17 Dec 94 pl [Report by Vasiliy Natykin: “Cossacks Sound the Alarm”] [FBIS Translated Text] Mozdok—The inhabitants of the Caucasus Cossacks’ communities are losing their last shreds of patience. Armed formations, often of unknown allegiance, are prospering on plundering. killings, and violence. The Cossacks spoke of the complete lawless- ness which is prevailing not only in Chechnya, but also in other regions of the North Caucasus. Your blood runs cold on hearing these stories. Thus Chiplygin, a 60-year old inhabitant of the village of Chernokozovo, and his 48-year old fellow villager Shipitsyn were guarding their grain. In the night, several young guys drove up. Ship- itsyn came out at the sound of the engine, and was shot at point-blank range from an assault rifle. The same fate befell his comrade, who had managed to fire a shot in self-defense. In the morning the villagers discovered the bodies of their fellow villagers. They had been brutally defiled. Their throats were slit, their stomachs cut open, and their hearts had been torn out. It was horrifying to look at the photographs which the atamans were showing. Pavel Zadorozhnyy, field ataman of the Cossack Union, stated that they had come to Mozdok to meet with Russian Vice Premier Nikolay Yegorov and assure him that all of the Cossacks and inhabitants of settlements FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 and villages in the North Caucasus support the govern- ment and the president on the issues connected with restoring law and order. “I do not understand,” Zadorozhnyy said, “how many more dead, raped, or missing people we need before constitutional order is resolutely restored.” Viktor Zorin, chief of the military administration of the Caucasus Cossacks, added that 169 officers and generals are prepared to use their skill and knowledge to help “untie the Chechen knot of contradictions.” The Cossacks reported that a rally of representatives of 75 communities has been held in Pyatigorsk. The reso- lution adopted at the rally was signed, apart from by the Cossacks, by the Ossetian, Armenian, and Greek com- munities, the Unior of Officers, and the Union of Veterans. The Council of Aiamans of the Russian Cossack Union has sent a statement to Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Vice Premier Nikolay Yegorov. They are notably demanding “that full force be applied” against Dudayev’s formations and that the Cossacks be brought in to back up this operation. They are also asking that three battalions be formed from the Terek Cossack Troops in cooperation with the Russian organs of internal affairs throughout the territory of the North Caucasus to ensure constitutional order and the protec- tion of national economic installations, and to curb the activities of the bandit formations. At the meeting with the Cossacks, Vice Premier Nikolay Yegorov promised to examine this statement. ‘Experts’ Claim Army ‘Dragged Into’ Conflict MK1712092094 Moscow NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA in Russian 17 Dec 94 p 2 [Report by Nikolay Vishnevskiy under the “Army” rubric with the general heading: ““Groznyy Offered Dia- logue”) [FBIS Translated Text] According to reports from very high-ranking military circles, the situation coming about in the area of the Chechen conflict is not as cloudless as is being presented by the authorities. Yesterday, the sources said that what is discernible behind the current actions of the Russian Army is the implementation of political decisions, but not clear-cut plans of combat operations. The experts think that the Defense Ministry and the General Staff did not plan an operation on a settlement of the Chechen crisis by force, but were dragged into an internal political conflict under pressure from the top political leadership. They confirmed that the Armed Forces plans, hastily drawn up at the directive from the top, include the sealing off of Chechnya and its capital, support for the Internal Affairs Ministry units’ effort to disarm “illegal armed formations,” and the prevention This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 of similar formations from penetrating the republic’s territory. According to NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA’s sources, the plans apparently did not feature an assault on Groznyy. It was also confirmed that the “assault” on the city 26 November was “manifestly amateurish in nature,” did not have a direct bearing on the Army, and appears to have been carried out by different structures. The consequences of a military solution to a political conflict in Chechnya, the experts think, have not been thought out or assessed whatsoever. In particular, no provisions have been made for possible casualties among both servicemen and civilians; economic costs, the morale and psychological state of the troops and the Russian population in general were not taken into account. Similarly, the ill-conceived, inconsistent, and hasty actions give grounds to suggest that the political results of turning the North Caucasus region into a zone of constant instability and of significantly reducing the state’s defense capability on its southern boundaries were not considered either. The experts also see Boris Yeltsin’s latest statement extending the deadline for compliance with the presiden- tial edict as confirming the lack of thought-out plans of action. In the view of some high-ranking officers in Moscow and on the ground, this delay may equally bring about both a political settlement and an assault on Groznyy. It is not ruled out that by that time the requisite force will be concentrated around the Chechen capital, reserves will be pulled up, and—in case talks shculd fail—a decision will be made to take the city by force. In the experts’ judgment, any outcome of the conflict will backfire on the army, which turned out to be “set up” and which will find itself in a fix that will be even worse than what it is in now. RUSSIA NATIONAL AFFAIRS 47 UN Team’s Findings on Komi Oil Spill Reported LD1612160994 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1543 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By BUSINESS-TASS correspondent Aleksander Samozhnev] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow December 16 TASS— The volume of oil spilled as a result of the damage to the oil pipeline in Usinsk proved to be five times larger than the officially stated data and approaches 79 thousand tonnes. However, the spill is not hazardous for the environment outside Russia. This conclusion has been drawn by a United Nations group of experts who have been invited to assess the accident. At the same time, in expert opinion, there is the need for a number of protective measures and for decreasing rivers’ pollution. This will make it possible to avoid a sharp deterioration of the state of the environment and prevent the spill of oil into the Barents Sea. The United Nations group of experts arrived at the conclusion that oil pollution is not the result of a one-time spill, but of the accumulation of oil spilt over many years, particularly in the summer and autumn of 1994, said Michael Elmqvist, chief of the group of experts. It was established that a total area of 65 hectares was polluted with oil. Efforts of the United Nations department for humani- tarian affairs and of experts of the United Nations environment programme were first rallied in Komi, Elmqvist said. Another United Nations mission will arrive in Russia for inspection in April 1995. The next stage will be to invite independent experts to estimate the material damage from the leakage. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. UKRAINE International Affairs Prime Minister Issues Communique on Visit to Belarus LD1712190794 Kiev Radio Ukraine World Service in Ukrainian 1700 GMT 17 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] A communique on the results of the official visit to the Republic of Belarus by Ukrainian Prime Minister Vitaliy Masol: Ukrainian Prime Minister Vitaliy Masol paid an official visit to the Republic of Belarus on 15-16 December at the invitation of Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Chyhir. Masol had talks with Belarusian Prime Minister Chyhir. Conversations took place with Belarusian President Aly- aksandr Lukashenka and Belarusian Supreme Soviet Chairman Mechyslaw Hryb. A conversation between Uladzimir Syanko and Hennadiy Udovenko, Belarusian and Ukrainian foreign ministers, took place within the framework of the visit. The meetings proceeded in a friendly, businesslike, and constructive atmosphere. Extended exchanges of opinion on issues of bilateral relations and certain international problems of mutual interest took place. Masol met Ukrainian businessmen and Ukrainian diaspora representatives in the Republic of Belarus. A number of agreements were signed during the visit. It was noted with satisfaction that fruitful cooperation between the two countries was being established in recent years in the political, trade, economic, scientific, technical, cultural, law enforcement, and other sectors. Readiness for further extension and consolidation of bilateral cooperation in these directions was expressed. The sides agreed to carry out coordinated actions in resolving joint ecological problems. They were unani- mous in assessing the scale of the disaster at the Cher- nobyl nuclear power station. In connection with this the necessity of close coordination between Belarus and Ukraine in eliminating the disaster’s aftermath and more joint involvement of the world community in resolving this problem was confirmed. Issues of Pelarusian-Ukrainian trade, economic, scien- tific and technical cooperation occupied a central place in the talks. A positive assessment of what had been achieved in these areas in recent years was made. Exam- ination of topical international problems at the talks confirmed a coincidence or closeness of the positions of Belarus and Ukraine on most of them. This makes it possible for the two countries to cooperate in the inter- national arena vigorously and fruitfully, including in the CIS, UN, and the CSCE. The sides intend to consolidate multi-faceted and con- structive cooperation in regional and world matters. On behalf of Ukraine’s Government Masol invited Belaru- sian Prime Minister Chyhir to pay an official visit to FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Ukraine in 1995. The invitation was received with gratitude. The date of the visit will be agreed upon via diplomatic channels. Crimean President Assesses CSCE Visit LD1812154194 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1445 GMT 18 Dec 94 {FBIS Transcribed Text] Simferopol, Dec 18 (Interfax- Ukraine)—The activities of the CSCE mission in the Crimea are called upon to eliminate the use of force in solving all disputes, Crimean President Yuriy Meshkov said after the meeting witii CSCE representatives. The CSCE delegation stayed in the Crimea for two days. The visit, according to the CSCE mission leader Sla- vomir Dabrova, was aimed at solving the problem about the premises for the local representation. Members of the CSCE mission met with leadership of the Crimean parliament as well as with representatives of the parliament factions. Meeting with deputies of the Kurultai faction, CSCE representatives were interested in the relationships between the Crimean Tatars and all power branches in the Crimea and Ukraine, the principle of the Crimean Tatars settlement and the possibility of the threat on the part of the Islamic fundamentalism. According to the lester of the Kurultai faction, Refat Chubarov, the CSCE mission in Ukraine and the Crimea will help closer integration of Ukraine into Europe and will help the European community understand better the problems of the Crimean Tatars. According to the commission’s mandate, one of the three CSCE representatives in the Crimea will tackle the problem of the Crimean Tatars. Slavomir Dabrova said that the CSCE Commissar for National Minorities Max van der Stoel plans his visit to the Crimea on December 20. Transcarpathian Parties Oppose Joint Defense Accord LDI1612170694 Kiev UNIAR in Ukrainian 1230 GMT 16 Dec 94 {FBIS Translated Text] Uzhgorod, 15 Dec— Transcarpathian regional organizations of the Ukrainian Republican Party, the Congress of Ukrainian National- ists, and the Mukachevo town club of the “Green” Party of Ukraine have issued a joint statement in connection with the stand of Valeriy Shmarov, Ukraine's deputy prime minister and defense minister on the content of the currently drafted Ukrainian-Russian agreement on antiaircraft defense within the context of a comprehen- sive interstate treaty between Ukraine and Russia. The future agreement envisages, in particular, that Russia will be responsible for the defense of Ukraine's air space in exchange for the right to operate antiaircraft This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 defense stations in Yevpatoria, Nikolayev, and Mukachevo, the statement emphasizes. The realization of these attempts will definitely lead to another outbreak of social tensions in Transcarpathia,“ the statement indicates. [quotation marks as received] ” A similar situation several years ago resulted in the fact that the construction of the notorious radar station near Mukachevo was terminated.“ Kuchma Meets German Economists, Discusses Stabilization LD1612162094 Kiev Radio Ukraine World Service in Ukrainian 1400 GMT 16 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] Last Thursday Ukrainian Presi- dent Leonid Kuchma received a group of German econ- omists, led by (Lutz Hoffman), president of the institute of economic research, and (Aksel Zidenberg), executive director of the economic research center of Deutsche Bank. A broad range of issues were discussed at the meeting, in particular, those dealing with the foreign economic situation of Ukraine and the search for ways of stabilizing the situation. In the opinion of the German economists, stabilization will allow the introduction of a new national currency in a shorter period of time. During the conversation, the guests expressed their readiness to promote Ukraine’s negotiations with the IMF. Leonid Kuchma pointed out the importance of these negotiations. Dwelling on the current economic situation in the country, he emphasized the need for a compre- hensive approach to the solution of existing problems. In his opinion, Ukraine should be looking for ways of stabilization that would be as painless to people as possible. Leonid Kuchma refer,ed to small-scale priva- tization and raising the competitiveness of Ukrainian- made products as the most important problems in the course of stabilizing Ukraine’s economy. EBRD Opens Credit Line for Ukraine LD1712131594 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1246 GMT I7 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Viadimir Voronkov] [FBIS Transcribed Text] London December 17 TASS— During a visit of the Ukrainian minister of finance to the British capital, an agreement was signed here on Friday with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Devel- opment (EBRD) for the opening of a credit line to the sum of 100 million Ecu. The money is intended for rendering assistance to the small and medium enter- prises of Ukraine. According to EBRD President Jacques de Larosier, the document demonstrates major financial commitments of the bank and perceptibly increases its allocations to Ukraine. He said that the credit line would promote the consolidation of the financial infrastructure and the UKRAINE 9 private sector in that country. Its functioning will create a favourable climate for further investments of the European bank in the Ukrainian economy in 1995. The allocations will be divided into four stages, for which six most promising and reliable Ukrainian banks are being chosen. EBRD approved a total of six financial projects for Ukraine, whose value is estimated at 164 million Ecu. Business Information Service Launched in Kiev LD1712145694 Kiev Radio Ukraine World Service in Ukrainian 1100 GMT 17 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Summary] EUROINFO Kiev, an up- to-date Ukrainian business information service, was launched in Kiev on 16 December. The service is described by its founders, the Ukrainian Union of Indus- trialists and Entrepreneurs and Belgium’s Antwerp chamber of commerce and industry, as “a news agency supplying commercial information.” The service sets out “to ensure prompt information exchange between part- ners; facilitate searching for potential investors; and provide assistance in holding business meetings, con- sulting, marketing, and legal services for international business.” National Affairs Chechnya Events Said To Influence Crimean Situation AUI612124694 Kiev MOLOD UKRAYINY in Ukrainian 15 Dec 94 p I [Report by Volodymyr Prytula, MOLOD UKRAYINY special correspondent, from Simferopol: “Chechnya Is Not Far Away From the Crimea”) [FBIS Translated Text] “The invasion of Russian troops and the beginning of war in Chechnya has given rise toa deep concern among the Crimean democratic public. Chechnya is much closer to the Crimean Peninsula than geographic maps might suggest,” said in a conversation with me Refat Chubarov, deputy of the Supreme Council of the Crimean Autonomous Republic. Indeed, it is not only the same religion, but also similar fates that unite many Crimean citizens with residents of Chechnya. In 1944, both the Crimean Tatars and the Chechens were, by the Moscow leadership’s order, deprived of their homeland and forcibly deported into exile. It is, there- fore, clear why there were many Crimean Tatars among the people who gathered at a rally on 12 December in the central square of Simferopol to voice their protest against the Russian troops invading the territory of Chechnya. However, as the speakers emphasized, repre- sentatives of different nationalities and activists of all Crimean democratic organizations gathered at the meeting of solidarity with the Chechen people. In his speech, Refat Chubarov pointed out that when the Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia just a few persons This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 50 UKRAINE in the USSR publicly protested, whereas now, hundreds and thousands of Crimeans expressed their protest jointly with the democratic public of Russia, Ukraine, and other states. The participants in the Simferopol rally called upon the Russian leadership “to immediately stop all military actions against the Chechen people and to withdraw Russian Armed Forces from the territory of Chechnya.” In the resolution that was adopted, the participants in the rally supported “the struggle of the Chechen people in defense of its fatherland.” R. Chubarov, chairman of the “Kurultay” parliamentary faction, said in an interview for MOLOD UKRAYINY that the events in Chechnya will have a serious effect upon the situation around the Crimea. Having opted for the armed intervention in Chechnya, Moscow has deprived itself of a possibility to react if Kiev takes drastic measures to bring the Crimean Constitution in line with the Constitution of Ukraine. The leaders of the Crimean parliament refuse to make comments on the events in the Chechen Republic. Local observers believe that, no matter how the situation develops in the Caucasus, official Simferopol will end up a loser. The Ukrainian leadership is getting a counter- argument in its controversy with the Crimean separat- ists. Crimean Officials Meet on Chechnya, Crir4e Protection LD1712230294 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Se: vice in Russian 1605 GMT 17 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Lev Ryabchikov] [FBIS Translated Text] Simferopol, 17 Dec—Infantry armored fighting vehicles appeared on the streets and highways leading to Simferopol today. By a decision of the leadership of Ukraine, subunits of the National Guard and Army corps will now be on duty to guard public law and order along with the militia. It is also intended to introduce guard dog patrols in a few days. Although all of this is reminiscent of “a procedure”’ for introducing a state of emergency in the Crimean capital, there are grounds for such actions. It was noted at an emergency meeting of the leaders of the power structures and executive committees today that a wave of crimes has swept Crimea and automatic weapons and grenades are being used more and more frequently. Anatoliy Franchuk, head of the Crimean government, stressed that “the crime situation today is such that one may deviate from the established norms in some things.” Cooperation with the military in combating crime will continue all the time now, Vitaliy Kirichenko, acting head of the internal affairs directorate of Crimea, said at a news conference that took place immediately after the meeting. Replying to journalists’ questions, he and Ivan Kolomyt- sev, head of the security service, did not confirm that FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 tens of Crimean Tatars, who had sworn to lay down their lives—which was reported by some mass media—had been sent to Chechnya. “We are taking measures to prevent mercenaries being hired for Chechnya,” Ivan Kolomytsev said. “And at the moment we do not have any information about them being recruited.” He also said that the guarding of several facilities had been stepped up, airports in particular, in connection with information received about the possible infiltration into the territory of Ukraine by terrorist groups from the Caucasus to carry out terrorist acts. Black Sea Fleet Refutes Reports of ‘Red Alert’ Status AU1612!130394 Kiev HOLOS UKRAYINY in Ukrainian 15 Dec 94 p2 {UKRINFORM report from Sevastopol on 13 December] [FBIS Translated Text] The Press Center of the Black Sea Fleet has refuted the “news” carried by some mass media to the effect that the Fleet has allegedly been put on red alert in connection with the events in Chechnya. Usual scheduled training is under way on ships and in military units, and there are no grounds for talk about red alert. Kuchma, Deputies To Coordinate Political Reforms LD1612190394 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1625 GMT 16 Dec 94 [From the “Presidential Bulletin” feature; compiled by Nikolay Zherebtsov, Andrey Petrovskiy, and edited by Vladimir Shishlin] [FBIS Transcribed Text] President Leonid Kuchma and leaders of the Ukrainian parliament, the Supreme Rada, have reached agreement to set up a conciliatory commis- sion which is given a week in which to draw up a power sharing bill to be presented to pai:iament. The agree- ment follows a recent meeting by the Rada presidium. “I am confident that the new law will be approved”, Kuchma told Interfax adding that there was no other alternative if the society was to be spared the trouble of a power struggle. The president spoke of a superb atmosphere at the meeting with no one claiming for more or less powers. And he added that there were no differences, but only suggestions on how to improve the law. IF note: Earlier, Rada Speaker Oleksandr Moroz and other influential deputies attacked the bill putting an end to local councils and depriving the parliament of its power base in the regions. Kuchma himself speaking at the end of last month predicted serious difficulties in pushing the bill through. In a series of interviews, he did not rule out contradictions with parliament on the issue This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 because of a revolutionary step being made towards redistribution of power. Many explain Rada’s change of heart by overwhelming support that city council chairmen gave to Kuchma’s reformist plans. Regional leaders threatened a quick signature collecting campaign in favor of a nationwide referendum on the new law if this was rejected by parliament. Leader of the nationalist Rukh party Vyacheslav Chor- novyl in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine pointed to an atmosphere of striking unanimity by all factions and groups in discussing the proposed law. “Even the Com- munists supported the bill,” he said though not ruling out that this may be their new tactics. The 10-member conciliatory commission includes pres- idential and Rada representatives, five members each. Parliamentary Groups Comment on Draft State Power Law LD1612133594 Kiev UNIAR in Ukrainian 2230 GMT 15 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] Kiev, 15 Dec—The parliamen- tary group of “Rukh” and groupings of “Reforms,” “Statehood,” Interregional Bioc of Reforms and “Center” have drawn up a joint document containing comments on the draft constitutional law on state power and local self-government, which is to be tinalized by the body formed by the parliament and president. These groups of deputies favor the presidential and parliamen- tary form of government, proposing that the draft law’s Article 17 should be formulated as follows: The Supreme Council is authorized to address and decide all issues in the life of the state and society that are in need of legislative regulation. The ;right-of-center parliamentary groups want the Supreme Council of Ukraine to be able to dissolve itself if it is unable to produce a majority fit to legislate. The presidential draft provides for the division of central executive power into three structures, namely the presi- dential administration, Cabinet of Ministers, and other ministries and departments. ‘Reforms’ Group Suggests Law Be ‘Reworked’ LD1712130294 Kiev Radio Ukraine World Service in Ukrainian 0600 GMT 17 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] The Reforms group of deputies at a news conference on 16 December expressed their view on the presidential draft of the law on state power and local self-government in Ukraine. Viewing the submission of this document for the Supreme Council’s consideration as the first step toward establishing a democratic and constitutional system in our state, the Reforms group at the same time has a whole number of essential comments to be made on the draft law. It was said, in particular, that the group’s deputies regarded some of the provisions in it as posing UKRAINE 51 a threat of the emergence of authoritarianism in the state structure and failing to lay the foundation for the effec- tive organization of structures and powers and for the distribution and responsibilities of the branches and levels of state power. The Reforms group suggested that the draft law should be substantially reworked by a joint group of presidential administration and Supreme Council of Ukraine repre- sentatives, which should include members of deputies’ groups and groupings. Interregional Reform Bloc Holds Founding Congress LD1712205994 Kiev UNIAN in Ukrainian 1650 GMT 17 Dec 94 {[FBIS Translated Text] Kiev [dateline as received]— “While announcing the creation of a new political party, which aims to reform Ukraine’s political and economic system, we should show that not only the intention to reform society can benefit Ukraine, but also tough polit- ical will and the ability to organize oneself,” Volodymyr Hrynyov, the newly elected chairman of the “Interre- gional Reform Bloc” [Mizhrehionalnyy Blok Reform] party and adviser to the Ukrainian president on regional policy, said to the 250 delegates at the party’s founding congress. Greetings to representatives from 19 of Ukraine's regions from Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma were read out at the congress. He said that the bloc started by him and Hrynyov was being turned into a political organization ir. order to support the economic reform course. The president expressed readiness to support all reformis: steps by the new organization. The congress approved the party’s program documents, in which the aim of the party’s activity was declared to be the creation of a civilized civic society with human rights, private ownership, and entrepreneurial initiative as the priorities. In an amended version, the program announces the prospect of a federal land system for Ukraine. With regard to the language issue, the Interregional Reform Bloc defines its position thus: The Ukrainian language should be the state one in Ukraine, and the regions have the right to use the Russian language in accordance with the law of Ukraine “on languages.” Representatives from the People’s Movement of Ukraine [Rukh], the Democratic Party of Ukraine, the Party of Greens of Ukraine, the Party of Democratic Revival of Ukraine, the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine, the Liberal Democratic Party of Ukraine, and many civic organizations addressed greetings to the congress participants. The composition of the party council was approved. Two representatives from each regional organization are in This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 52 UKRAINE the council. The party council is to elect the political council at sittings on 17-18 December. se Council Elections Postponed for One ear LD1912102094 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1004 GMT 19 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondents Viktor Demidenko and Mikhail Melnik] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Kiev December 19 TASS— By-elections to the Ukrainian parliament in 46 constit- uences are put off by one year. This decision was taken by the Ukrainian parliament, since there were no win- ners there even after ten rounds of voting. The decision circulated by the legislature on Monday [19 December] says that elections in many constituences were found invalid due to a low turnout. Therefore, taking into account considerable financial and material outlays from the budget, it was decided not to hold elections for the tim. being. Only 404 legislators will now work in the Ukrainian parliament. Consumer Price Index Shows Ist Decrease in 4 Months WS1912102794 Kiev INTELNEWS in English 0036 GMT 19 Dec 94 {Report by INTELNEWS staff writer Ed Zwirn: ““Con- sumer Prices Decline After Four-Month Rise”’} {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Consumer prices actually declined over the past two weeks, causing the first decrease in the INTELNEWS Consumer Price Index in over four months. Dollar and karbovanets holders fared equally well this time around, with the cost of living declining by about 11! percent for each. Consumers, however, remain substantially worse off than they were when the last decrease occurred 18 weeks ago on Aug. 11. Since that time, prices have increased by about 258 percent in the local currency and 7.4 percent when reckoned in dollars. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Although prices had been increasing moderately before that, a Cabinet of Ministers pricing decree issued Oct. 21 unleashed the spectacular round of price increases that have caused profound repercussions throughout the country. The decree, which raised prices on a host of consumer staples and services such as bread, metro tickets and rent, caused prices to jump immediately and items to vanish from shelves as consumers rushed out at the end of October to beat the price increases that they correctly assumed would come at the beginning of November. In the six weeks that foliowed the issuance of decree, prices shot up by 138 percent. Now that all the price increases planned for the imme- diate future have already taken effect and the supply situation seems to be gradually adjusting itself, this trend has moderated. In the prior two-week period ending Dec. 2, the increase had already started slowing down by registering the shortest two-week gain (1.6 percent) since September. It of course remains to be seen whether this price stabilization—which coincides with several weeks of relative stability for Ukraine’s beleaguered currency— represents a true respite or just a statistically insignifi- cant pause from the ravaging inflation that seemed capable of causing both political and labor unrest just a short time ago. For the most recent two-week period, the index dropped by 11.5 percent, or about 299 percent annualized. The overall increase since measurements began Feb. 24 is 246.6 percent, or about 199 percent annualized. The index now measures 346.6, with Feb. 24 equal to 100. The good news for consumers this time around came in the food category as the reappearance of milk and cheese in some state stores lessened their consolidated prices. Although there were no actual price decreases for these items, the availability of state milk and cheese caused decreases of 51.9 percent and 26 percent, respectively. The other component of the decrease was an 11.1 percent drop in the price of gasoline. The bad news inciuded a 20 percent increase for pork, 15 percent for eggs and 13.1 percent for butter. The price of a Snickers Bar also went up 13.3 percent. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Belarus Chyhir, Masol Express ‘Contentment’ With Visit LD1612203094 Minsk Radio Minsk Network in Belarusian 1700 GMT 16 Dec 94 [Report by correspondent Svyatlana Ilyichenka on news conference of Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Chyhir and Ukrainian Prime Minister Vitaliy Masol at the National Press Center in Minsk on 16 December; incor- porating recorded coniments by Chyhir and Masol] {[FBIS Translated Text] Ukrainian Prime Minister Vitaliy Andriyovych Masol, who was heading the gov- ernment delegation, and Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Mikhalayevich Chyhir expressed content with the results of the visit as they said a single viewpoint had been reached on a majority of the issues. Moreover, the countries are close in spirit and culture and should have normal goodneighborly and friendly relations. As a result, the trade turnover between our countries will double next year. Belarus has goods that interest Ukrai- nian citizens and Belarus needs cooking oil, wheat, and sugar that can be purchased from neighbors. Here is what Mikhail Mikhalayevich Chyhir noted in particular: [Chyhir] Another characteristic feature and point is that our states are very close neighbors. Proceeding even from world prices on transportation, which we now have in the CIS, deliveries of goods from Ukraine are much more advantageous than what can be brought from Russia, from Siberia for example. And it would be unforgivable not to use this advantage. Therefore, one can sum it up in the following way: What has been lost cannot be returned but what can be used in the interests of our friendly neighboring nations should be done without delay. And it should be done in a way to minimize lost possibilities. [Ilyichenka] Vitaliy Andriyovych Masol has invited Mikhail Mikalayevich Chyhir to pay a return visit. Here is a passage from the speech of the Ukrainian Prime Minister. {Masol] I must say that I am very pleased with the results of the visit. There were several meetings with Mikhail Mikalayevich. We also met the president of Belarus twice today. Our conversations confirmed that in spirit, strategy, and tactics our views coincide. Really, the time of euphoria has run out; the time of the so-called—I would put it in inverted commas—independence. We are all dependent on one another. If we receive water from Belarus along the Dnieper River we cannot block it. And we will never say that we can live without the Belarusian Dnieper. The agreements that we managed to sign today give us a basis for further expansion of our cooperation in order to simplify all our procedures. The last agreement signed by us—I was already in my coat, Mikhail Mikalayevich in a suit—was about our customs services and border services. | would like to say we should be closer to each other and spend less time WESTERN REGION 53 dealing with formalities. We had many meetings today and yesterday. We visited enterprises and met the lead- ership of the republic. I must say that even yesterday's meeting at the refrigerator factory gave me a lot person- ally. A process of certain stabilization has started today. The task of our governments is to sustain it at today’s level. If we solve this task, I think that already in one to two years stabilization in the economy will begin. [Words indistinct] to repeat one phrase that today the economy determines the politics and our people have already understood that. [llyichenka] Journalists asked a lot of questions this evening. One of them was about creation of a single customs space. Mikhail Mikalayevich Chyhir answered that question. [Chyhir] As far as the customs union is concerned, you know that CIS countries are very close to an agreement on a single customs space. As it happens, Ukraine is maybe slightly distant from this issue. Russia and Belarus are the closest to an agreement on a single customs space. Therefore, our position is whatever turn events take—I think that regardless of what happens with other countries—in relations between Russia and Belarus, the agreement on a single customs space will be signed soon. All problems in relations with Russian customs [words indistinct]. And I would put in the second place our relations with Ukraine—we will do everything necessary and possible in our relations with Ukraine, as far as possible within the agreement with Russia on a customs space. Today’s agreement and negotiations have allowed us to remove customs barriers on many positions, and we will carry on doing it all the time. Lukashenka Favors Economic Contacts With Ukraine LD1612185594 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1625 GMT 16 Dec 94 [From the “Presidential Bulletin” feature; compiled by Nikolay Zherebtsov and Andrey Petrovskiy; edited by Vladimir Shishlin] [FBIS Transcribed Text] President Alyaksandr Lukash- enka meeting on Friday in Minsk Ukrainian Prime Minister Vitaliy Masol favored further promotion of economic contacts between Belarus and Ukraine. “We want to restore all the good which was crossed out. I propose to all the republics: let’s invent nothing new, let’s restore at least what we had,” said Lukashenka. The president also favored close contacts between the leaders of the two countries at the official level. He believes it would be useful to conduct such meetings “at least once in three months.” The Ukrainian prime minister told Lukashenka about the situation in terms of energy supplies to Ukraine. He This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. Sa WESTERN REGION said that before the end of the year Ukraine needs around 10 billion cu meters of gas. Masol voiced hope that as a result of the talks carried out by leaders of Russia and Uzbekistan, in the first three months of 1995 Ukraine will be provided with gas, even if Turkmenistan does not resume supplies. The Belarusian and Ukrainian prime ministers signed on Friday in Minsk some bilateral agreements. Among them is the protocoi on coordination of volumes and schedule of supplies of important products between the two countries for 1995, an agreement on military and tech- nological cooperation, on mutual supplies of arms, mil- itary technology, military property and mutual military services in 1995, as well as an agreement on environ- mental cooperation. Also signed is the protocol on con- sultations between foreign ministries, an agreement between the ministries for foreign-economic relations on cooperation, a protocol for an intergovernmental agree- ment on international motor transportation. Soldiers Issue Statement on ‘Chechen Criminals’ LD1812140094 Minsk Radio Minsk Network in Belarusian 0400 GMT 18 Dec 94 {[FBIS Translated Text] The Belarus Association of Sol- diers issued a statement concerning the events in the Chechen Republic which in particular expresses alarm over the fact that the war in Chechnya will lead to an influx of crimiaal elements of Chechen nationality into our republic. In connection with this, the statement contains a demand that the president and Supreme Soviet urgently transform the eastern border of the republic into a regime of round-the-clock control, set up strict immigration checks and a visa system for entry into Belarus, start the mass issuing of Belarus passports and provide the BAS with the possibility of taking an active part in actions of volunteer pecple’s militia groups. Officials Uncover Counterfeit Dollar Operation LD1612153394 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1353 GMT 16 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Minsk, Dec 16 (Interfax-West) - Belarusian Interior Ministry officers have discovered an underground printing shop in Minsk engaged in manufacturing counterfeit $100 notes, ministry press center officials told Interfax. The press was owned by an ethnic Armenian from Sochi, who put up $11,000, and a researcher, from the General and Inorganic Chemistry Institute under the Belarusian Academy of Sciences, who had been working on pro- tecting cash and securities from forgery. The two men constructed a special press in the casting equipment factory in Volkovysk, Grodno Region, and purchased aluminum-copper plates in the mint. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 They admitted planning to print about $10 million for subsequent sale in former Soviet republics at a wholesale price of 50 cents a dollar. Nearly 3000 counterfeit notes were seized. Moldova CSCE Official Discusses 14th Army’s Role With Lebed AU1612143194 Chisinau BASAPRESS in English 1930 GMT 15 Dec 94 [FBIS Transcribed Text] Chisinau BASAPRESS, 15/ 12/1994—The 14th Army Press Service released with delay a communique on the meeting between 14th Army Commander Aleksandr Lebed and CSCE officer for ethnic minorities’ problems, Max van der Stoel. For 15 minutes Lebed and Van der Stoel exchanged opinions on ensuring stability and peace keeping in the region in the light of the 14th Army’s withdrawal. “‘Most opinions of the general and CSCE officer coincided,” states the communique. Earlier, Lebed supported the position of the Moldovan schools’ teaching staff and parents to teach in the Latin script. The 14th Army assisted Tiraspol school No. 20, which was devastated. Van der Stoel expressed his satisfaction with the dialogue he had with General Lebed. According to some unverified infor- mation, Max Van der Stoel was not satisfied with the meeting with Igor Smirnov on grounds that the Tiraspol authorities do not let Moldovans decide what language to study. NATO Experts Inspect 14th Army Deployed in Dniester AU1612141494 Chisinau BASAPRESS in English 1930 GMT 15 Dec 94 {[FBIS Transcribed Text} Chisinau BASAPRESS, 15/ 12/1994—A group of NATO military experts repre- senting Spain, Italy, Portugal and the Czech Republic visited Tiraspol, Colonel Vladimir Popov, representa- tive at the Russian National Centre for Reduction of Armament, said at a press conference held yesterday by the 14th Army Command. Popov also said that the experts inspected the Russian Army’s compliance with the agreement on the reduction of conventional weapons in Europe. “The 14th Army’s inspection was carried out according to the schedule set,” said Popov refusing to furnish details on the results of the inspection. Arguments Over Russian Peacemakers’ Future Summed Up MM 1612131594 Moscow ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA in Russian 15 Dec 94 First Edition p 7 [Report by Lyudmila Feliksova: ““What Color of Helmet Will Go to Moldova? Moldovan Leadership Would Like to See a More International Peacemaking Mission in Its Republic] This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 [FBIS Translated Text] A Moldovan delegation went to the Budapest meeting of leaders of the CSCE countries. According to official information, Moldovan President M. Snegur delineated the questions that interest the republic. They are well known: On the one hand, the final withdrawal of the Russian 14th Army; on the other hand, the introduction of an international peacemaking force into the Dniester Region security zone. According to M. Snegur, international supervision of the process of the withdrawal of the Russian army is in the interests not only of Russia and Moldova, but of all those who are “anxious to strengthen security and stability in the European continent.” The Moldovan president assigns the leading observer's role to the CSCE mission stationed in the republic. The president sees the involve- ment of multilateral forces in the peacemaking contin- gent, of which Russian subunits have constituted the nucleus hitherto, as the way to finally secure a political settlement. M. Snegur stressed once again that the con- flict was imposed from without (the sole formula used of late by the Moldovan president to describe the nature of the civil war in the Dniester Region) and added that he was “prepared immediately and without hesitation to join those who advocate introducing an international peacemaking force.” But the Dniester Region does not share this approach, to put it mildly. The official Dniester Moldovan Republic position in this connection was set out by Sh. Kitsak, military adviser to the president of the unrecognized WESTERN REGION 55 Dniester Republic. According to him, first of all the status of the security zone has to be deteremined. Second, the Dniester Region is opposed to a reduction of Russia’s peacemaking forces and does not intend to let anyone else into its ierritory. “Observers from the United Nations and CSCE, by all means,” Sh. Kitsak said, “but we will only recognize a Russian peacemaking force.” As for the “forces from without” that apparently unleashed the conflict, Sh. Kitsak believes that this is a blatant allusion to Russia, but decribes it as a “complete distortion of the facts.” So Moldova is saying thanks to the Russian peacemakers who have been maintaining stability in the region for two years, but it prefers to see others in the role of partners at the stage of a future settlement. The story goes that former Moldovan Security Minister Plugaru, who was removed from the post together with Defense Minister Kostash following the bloody events in Bendery, liked to show journalists on the map the place where there might be a NATO military base. At the time this was regarded as some kind of joke. Later, having now left his post, Plugaru said in an interview that Turkey might take the Russian 14th Army’s place. This also sounded pretty wild. Now the question who Moldova would like to see replace the Russian influence in the region appears to be taking a practical turn. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. CENTRAL ASIA Kazakhstan Nazarbayev Receives European Community Mission to Almaty LD1612212494 Almaty Kazakhstan Television Network in Russian 1500 GMT 16 Dec 94 {[FBIS Translated Text] President of Kazakhstan Nur- sultan Nazarbayev today received Ambassador Robert (Cramer), head of the European Community delegation, on the occasion of his official accreditation in Kaza- khstan. The protocol on the establishment of diplomatic rela- tions between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the European Union [EU] was signed in 1992. One of the main bodies of the EU is the European Community Commission, whose mission in Kazakhstan is to be headed by Mr. Cramer. The European Community Commission is the executive body of the European Union, possessing considerable independence in the implementation of its functions. The main trend of its activities is to assist the economic and humanitarian development of the countries of the former USSR. Auezkhan Kurbasov, Kazakhstan’s extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador to Belgium, was also appointed representative of Kazakhstan in the European Community Commission in 1993. Mr. Cramer gave assurances that he would exert every effort to step up the assistance by EU member countries in the development of Kazakhstan. Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed gratitude to the Euro- pean Community for the opportunity to have its official mission in Kazakhstan, and readiness to cooperate with it in all areas. Our country already has good business contacts with Germany and Austria, and intends to strengthen relations with Italy, Spain, and Luxembourg. With the help of the mission of the European Commu- nity Commission, I think we will be able to systematize and enlarge these relations, the president said, and wished Mr. Cramer fruitful work. Nazarbayev Receives Visiting Latvian President LD1912092194 Almaty Kazakhstan Television Network in Russian 1500 GMT 18 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text} All of you will probably agree that we people of Kazakhstan are always pleased to meet guests from the former USSR or other foreign countries who arrive here with peaceful and friendly intentions and with a desire for further friendship and good coop- eration. Today Kazakhstan welcomes such a guest, Latvian President Guntis Ulmanis. Today President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Latvian President Guntis Ulmanis. Matters of bilateral cooperation were discussed during the meeting, where FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 the two presidents expressed their mutual desire to further expand links between our countries. Talks in a broader format took place later, involving Foreign Minister Valdis Birkavs and presidential adviser Ivars Millers from the Latvian side, and Deputy Prime Minister Nigmatzhan Isingarin, head of the presidential apparatus, Nurtay Abykayev, Foreign Minister Kasymzhomart Tokayev, and other officials from the Kazakh side. Then the presidents of the two countries answered questions put by reporters. [Begin recording] [Ulmanis] This was a fleeting, four- hour meeting. But it was a very fundamental meeting at which the president and I arrived at similar conclusions, at complete accord on many political issues concerning events taking place in Asia and Europe. And I think this meeting should be a good start for further cooperation between Kazakhstan and the Baltic countries. A treaty on friendship and cooperation will be signed in the near future. I have invited the president of Kazakhstan to come to our country where we will further develop relations. [Nazarbayev] We are interested not only in restoring those very advantagous economic links—they are very important in themselves. People in Kazakhstan know the RAF buses which we used to get from from there. Many of our airmen were trained at the military, or rather civil aviation institute in Riga. There were elec- tronic goods, consumer goods. Latvia imported nonfer- rous and ferrous metals, tin, coal and other raw materials from Kazakhstan. And we are ready to supply it to them now, and are doing so. In general, there is trade between our countries, but it is at a very low level. We are very interested in better progress along the path of reforms. [end recording] This afternoon the Latvian delegation left for China. Trade Relations Discussed LD1812160194 Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service in Russian 1353 GMT 18 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Ivan Zakharchenko] [FBIS Translated Text] Almaty, 18 Dec—There are no impediments between Kazakhstan and Latvia for estab- lishing good mutual relations and trade and economic cooperation, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev declared today during talks with Latvian President Guntis Ulmanis, who has arrived in Almaty for a brief working visit. Nazarbayev said Kazakhstan could supply Latvia with nonferrous metals and coal, in exchange for consumer goods, household electrical goods and minibuses. The president also pointed out that by the end of this century Kazakhstan would be among the ten »r so leading oil extracting countries, and effective export of oil— This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 including to the Baltic states—would be of decisive importance for the development of the country’s economy. Latvian President Ulmanis said, in his turn, that Latvia, like the other Baltic countries, aspires to establish good relations in all aspects with Kazakhstan. “Kazakhstan’s actions in creating its own economy and affirming its independence give us grounds for all-round rapproche- ment; the foundations of this have been laid down during today’s talks, and the legal framework will be further developed during Nazarbayev’s visit to Riga,” Ulmanis stressed. Ulmanis and his delegation left for Peking today. Nazarbayev, Ulmanis Discuss Issues LD1812200794 Riga Radio Riga Network in Latvian 1800 GMT 18 Dec 94 {[FBIS Translated Text] En route to China, Guntis Ulmanis has arrived for a short working visit in the Kazakh capital where he met the presides: of that country, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Regional co. peration between the two countries, interethnic relations, and Latvia's and Kazakhstan’s relations with neighboring countries were discussed during the talks. Hear more about this meeting in a report prepared by our colleague, Judite Cunka: (Cunka] Ltvian President Guntis Ulmanis, en route to the People’s Republic of China, arrived in Kazakhstan on Sunday [18 December] for a working visit. At the airport, the Latvian president was met by Kazakh For- eign Minister Kasymzhomat Tokayev. After that the Latvian delegation went to the Kazakh president's resi- dence where Guntis Ulmanis had approximately one hour of talks with President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The presidents of the two countries discussed the situation in Europe and Asia and the progress of economic reforms in Latvia and Kazakhstan. Relations with Russia were also discussed there. Nazarbayev spoke favorably of the creation of the Baltic peacekeeping battalion. He pointed out that Russia’s desire to be a force maintaining and guaranteeing peace in the CIS countries and elsewhere is not acceptable. Nazarbayev considers the creation of the Baltic peace- keeping battalion as an achievement and an honor for the Baltic states. The Kazakh president's visit to Latvia is scheduled to take place next year. The two presidents agreed that a friendship and cooperation agreement will be signed. The process of Latvia getting involved in European structures, the Latvian citizenship law, national prob- lems, and return of aliens to their ethnic homeland were also discussed during the visit. It is precisely ethnic problems that seriously threaten Kazakh national secu- rity. Approximately 50 percent of the country’s inhabit- ants are Russian-speaking. Nursultan Nazarbayev CENTRAL ASIA 57 pointed out that equality of all the nationalities living in Kazakhstan underpins the concept of the nationality policy of the country. Speaking of the citizenship law, Nazarbayev noted that an agreement will be concluded with Russian in the immediate future on a simplified procedure of [words indistinct] of citizenship, because dual citizenship is not acceptable for Kazakhstan. As Nursultan Nazarbayev noted, (?the constitution of) [words indistinct] (?countries) and the world have recog- nized that that is not the best solution of the problem. On Sunday evening, the Latvian state president arrived in China for an official visit. Judite Cunka, Latvian radio special correspondent in Beijing. Deputy Defense Minister on Russia, Army LD1612164794 Almaty PANORAMA in Russian 10 Dec 94 pll [Unattributed article: “Kazakhstan Probably Will Abandon Universal Military Service in the Future”’] {[FBIS Translated Text] Alibek Kasymov, Kazakhstan’s first deputy defense minister and chief of general staff, answers questions from PANORAMA. [PANORAMA] Alibek Khamidovich, Russia and Kaza- khstan signed an agreement on military coperation in March. What is being done in this area today? [Kasymov] This basis agreement makes concrete the military and political aspects of the cooperation between the two states. It was signed as a development of the treaty on friendship and cooperation between our coun- tries signed on 25 May 1992. At the moment a further 24 documents, which elaborate on the basis agreement, are being prepared. They apply to the agreement’s practical implementation. The majority of them have been already drawn up and initialed. We hope that we will sign the main group of these documents during the next meeting of heads of state in Almaty on 23 December. Then 1995 will not be a year of talks but of real practical actions, which will strengthen the common security of our states. [PANORAMA] What spheres do these documents touch upon? [Kasymov] Very different. Personnel training, military service, the status of Russian military formations on Kazakh territory, the technical provision of airbases and communications. There are a number of documents of a specific, purely professional nature. An agreement on cooperation in the process of cutting strategic nuclear arms on Kazakh soil and an agreement on the procedure for conducting inspections in accor- dance with START I are being prepared. All of the treaty participants think that it will come into effect in the first quarter of 1995. And this means that there will be a large volume of practical work to do on strategic nuclear arms reduction. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 58 CENTRAL ASIA Unfortunately, so far we have not been able to achieve an agreement on a major problem—the functioning of testing sites on Kazakh territory. [PANORAMA] Has the issue been resolved in principle? Will Russia lease them or not? [Kasymov] The Russian position on this issue should be based on its national security interests. [PANORAMA] There are several testing sites on Kazakh territory—Sary-Shagan, Emba... What other ones? Is it planned to sign separate agreements on each of them? [Kasymov] We intend to decide on four sites. You have named two of them. So there is also the Kapustin Yar site, the military fields of which are in western Kaza- khstan. And the air testing center in Aktyubinsk region. A separate agreement will be reached for each of them because they are all are different in their territorial sweep, material reserves, and other features. [PANORAMA] What are the sides’ main disagreements? [Kasymov] Property and compensation problems. They are quite complicated to resolve. These issues go beyond the competence of our ministries. They have to be resolved at government level. For the time being we cannot make a decision on the sites’ residual value, a method for determining the price of the lease, or an approach to drawing up the lease contract. We proposed in principle to consider these property and compensation issues in the aggregate—in the course of all the interests that Russia has on Kazakh territory. I hope that our Russian counterparts will regard this proposal with understanding. At the same time it is proposed to reduce the area of the testing sites. We understand that today’s economic situ- ation in Russia is quite hard. Therefore we are not setting very strict conditions but are trying to find mutually acceptable solutions, which will take into account the interest of both sides in the sphere of joint defense. [PANORAMA] For how long can can these sites be leased? [Kasymov] As long as we are allies. The term of the military cooperation treaty has been defined. In prin- ciple the same scheme can be applied for leasing the sites. Though I understar~ on Kazakhstan te ‘at maintaining their operation / is a certain burden for the state and its populatio: s is connected with a certain risk and unexpected si .tions. This should be clearly real- ized by our Russian counterparts. Ecological issues and the safe carrying out of work occupy one of the main places in each county’s domestic policy. Nevertheless we are taking upon ourselves the burden of such responsi- bility, because the operation of the sites is of importance not only for Russian interests but for Kazakhstan’s security. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 [PANORAMA] Alibek Khamidovich, you said “as as long as we are allies.” How long then? {[Kasymov] We are so much connected to Russia eco- nomically and ethnically that in principle we see this prospect as long-term. | think we will be with Russia as long as Kazakhstan exists as a state itself. [PANORAMA] Another point is that Russia itself has not finally defined its position toward the near abroad yet. Everything will take shape proceeding from how soon and in what direction this happens. [PANORAMA] Can Russian military bases be stationed in Kazakhstan? Some time ago Russian Defense Min- ister Pavel Grachev announced the intention of creating them in CIS countries. [Kasymov] This practice is well accepted in the rest of the world. The allied states who are members of NATO, ASEAN, and other blocs, if necessary, station their bases on the territories of other states. A legal basis is created for their operation. Military bases are not a topic of discussions in relations with Russia on this matter. We came to the agreement that there will be Russian Feder- ation military units temporarily stationed on the terri- tory of Kazakhstan. The principle of ex-territorialism is absolutely not acceptable here. Currently, as I have said, we are preparing an agreement about the status of such units. We need to settle this from the point of jurisdic- tion and determine their necessity and tasks to find out to what degree they will guarantee the security of each state. And if this meets the norms of international law and the interests of the state we should accept it. But there is an obstacle. According to its legislation, as of 1 January 1995 Russia cannot send its servicemen beyond the boundaries of the state. The legal basis for their presence in other states, including Kazakhstan, is expiring. So this problem needs to be speedily resolved in principle and then all the other issues on the structure, purpose, and functioning of military units. [PANORAMA] The press has already reported that Kazakhstan has begun the withdrawal of strategic forces. How is this being implemented? {[Kasymov] Kazakhstan has displayed good will and, even before START I comes into force, has conducted a number of measures that have resulted in a considerable reduction in strategic groups of Russian forces on Kazakh territory. Currently the withdrawal of intercontinental ballistic missiles from combat duty is being carried out, and components of strategic offensive weapons are being withdrawn. The aviation unit stationed near Semipal- atinsk has been completely withdrawn. Special products are being transferred to Russia for storage, utilization, and further processing. The process is going on in quite an organized way, excluding interruptions in the financial provision for This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 these measures. The treaty stipulates the completion of these works within seven years. [PANORAMA] How many strategic weapons are sta- tioned in Kazakhstan? [Kasymov] This data is available from public sources. But I would rather not to hurry to repeat them. According to the treaty, the participating countries of START I have to exchange ratification documents on 5-6 December in Budapest during the CSCE summit. In this connection an exchange of more precise data will take place in accordance with established procedure. [PANORAMA] How do you see the future, the functions and tasks of Kazakhstan’s army, which is currently being formed? [Kasymov] Taking into account my experience of mili- tary service in the Soviet Army, I want it to be a qualitatively new army, small in size, completely equipped, well trained, and professional. The recruit- ment principle should be revised. We might decide to abolish universal military service, where people are obliged to serve, which results in the creation of an unattractive image for the army. The current situation demands a flexible and sensible approach to defining the structure and number of the forces, and the orientation of military training so as not to undermine the economy of the state. I would call this period transitional. In essence, not only Kazakhstan’s armed forces but the forces of ali other former USSR states are functioning in a post-Soviet regime. And we need to act and reform them not by the method of testing and mistakes but by precise thought, calculation, and thoroughly checked actions. The army is a special state institution and there can be no haste in reforming it. [PANORAMA] Is there a concept for transformations? And what will be the size of the Kazakh Army? [Kasymov] The concept is being worked out. You may ask why the principle reforms have not been achieved over two and a half years? Everybody, including me as the chief of staff, needs time to realize what stage the army is at, and clearly and precisely study the state of affairs. Having determined this, the decision can be taken about which path to take for further development and implemenmt it in practice. As far as size is concerned, it is well known that an army should be one percent of the population. For Kazakhstan this means 170,000. In fact we have even less. And it’s future size depends on how strong the economy will be and on the tasks linked with defense sufficiency. Currently it is too early to speak about it. We are at the beginning of our path. But I am sure we have made the right choice. The transition period will last at least five years. I think it will be completed in 2000-2005. And CENTRAL ASIA 59 that is when it will be possible to judge the real results of military reform in Kazakhstan. Chechnya Viewed as Integral Part of Russia LD1612204694 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 1831 GMT 16 Dec 94 [By ITAR-TASS correspondent Vadim Lagutin] [FBIS Transcribed Text] Rabat December 16 TASS— Chechen developments provoke concern of states- members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the whole international community, Deputy Kazakh Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Gizzatov told ITAR-TASS here today. He stressed that “Kazakhstan considers Chechnya to be an integral part of the Russian Federation and thinks that it is an internal Russian affair.” At the same time, he said that the problem has a humanitarian aspect. A military way to settle the problem always entails loss of life. That is why, Kazakhstan wants Russia to settle the problem with negotiations and political methods, added Gizzatov. Time has not been missed; maximum patience is needed since this is the matter of the people of Russia, he said. “Problem solution by force will bring political dividends for none, if tanks and aircraft are used to put under fire one’s own people,” said Gizzatov. Kazakhstan hopes that the Russian and Chechen leader- ship have enough wisdom and common sense to prevent a hard trial of the state stability, said Gizzatov. Gizzatov attended a session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference at the level of foreign ministers and a summit conference of the organization. In his words, the stand of Kazakhstan is shared by the overwhelming majority of the organization member-states. Nazarbayev Addresses Conference on National Issues LD1712123494 Almaty KAZAKHSTANSKAYA PRAVDA in Russian 14 Dec 94 pl [FBIS Translated Excerpt] A republican confercace on the socioeconomic and sociopolitical situation in the country has been taking place in Almaty since 13 December. Those invited to the conference include heads and deputy heads of departments on social issues in regional administrations, presidential staff members, officials of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of a number of ministries and departments, and senior editors of republican and regional newspapers. Deputy Prime Minister Akhmetzhan Yesimov and State Counsellor Marat Tazhin delivered reports. It was noted that the last three years of the transitional period, which were difficult and very hard for the republic, allow us, on the basis of our own experience, to understand the This report may contain copyrighted material. Copy 1g and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 60 CENTRAL ASIA essence of the ongoing processes and analyze their dynamics and basic tendencies, and our own actions. [passage omitted] The central focus of all the main difficulties of the government and the whole society concerns the financial and account sphere and the sphere of money circulation. Socioeconomic problems are directly reflected in the budget, which itself is alarming. The annual collection of taxes and payments will barely exceed 50 percent of what was planned. The nonpayments crisis, which has been brought about by indecision in introducing extremely strict bankruptcy procedures, is also playing a negative role. This has resulted in difficulties in the payment of wages and pensions and in funding social support measures for needy people. As of 1 November 1994 arrears of wages in budget- funded establishments was 1.2 billion tenge throughout the republic. Around 15 billion is owed to workers by enterprises for which the state is not responsible. A difficult situation is arising as regards the payment of pensions, debts for which totaled 3,384 million tenge as of 21 November. The government believes that giving budget status to the pension fund was a big mistake. Now it is has been corrected, but on the whole the situation has not yet been restored. By speaking frankly about extremely complicated prob- lems like these, we should bring them to the notice of the population and explain that the government is working intensively on their solution. Meanwhile, not everything in the wages and pensions sphere looks gloomy. Thanks to current policy, the inflation rate was kept to 0.6 percent a day in October and November. For the last few months the salary growth index has outstripped prices. According to pre- liminary data, the average salary in the republic in October was 3,090 tenge, and according to the center of regional nutrition issues the cost of the consumer basket was 1,352.2 tenge a month. As for the republic’s sociopolitical situation, over the last three years the press has gained freedom and a number of new parties and sociopolitical movements have appeared, and a good number of their members are working in the professional parliament. Kazakhstan’s independence is becoming stronger. Its sovereignty is secured even more reliably after a number of relevant documents were signed in Budapest. [Presi- dent} Nursultan Nazarbayev’s initiative on creating a Eurasian union has attracted the attention of all peoples of the former USSR. Analytical reports were also made by the heads of a number of ministries and departments. President Nursultan Nazarbayev addressed the confer- ence. He spoke in detail about topical problems of the republic’s domestic and foreign policy. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 In particular, the head of state said that since the collapse of the USSR Kazakhstan has in fact been left alone with its own problems caused by the one-sided orientation of industry toward raw materials, and a hypertrophied agriculture in pursuit of target figures. As the country gained genuine sovereignty, we had to start many things practically from zero. And the first thing was to carry out structural reconstruction of the economy, introduce market relations, and achieve the genuine democratiza- tion of society in difficult conditions. Those who do not see or understand this are bound to have preconceptions or to have a blinkered view of the processes taking place in real life. But unless we abandon objectivity, we cannot help noticing that strategically Kazakhstan has chosen the right path of development. Its authority is growing in the world community. Its ties with all countries of the far and near abroad, and first and foremost with the Russian Federation, are moving to civilized, equal, and mutually beneficial relations. We regard our great northern neigh- bor—the special relations of partnership and traditional ties of friendship with which go back to times immemo- rial—as our natural ally. Nursultan Nazarbayev continued by saying that many of our troubles are already behind us. For example, we are clearly on course to overcome the economic crisis and curb inflation. he position of the tenge is strengthening; the size of wages, pensions, and social allowances has started to grow, though not as rapidly as we would like. Interethnic unity and accord should be preserved in order to broaden and extend the long awaited changes. The single people of the country should not be divided on ethnic and social lines, but should solve our common tasks together and in agreement. The position of every Kazakhstan citizen is now assessed not from his words, but from his practical contribution to the common welfare, from his patriotism and constructivism, and from his efforts to bring a better future nearer. The head of state stressed that we are building an open society. There should be pluralism of opinions, and every Kazakh citizen should have the oppurtunity to openly express his personal point of view. I am quite convinced that there is no place in society for corpo- ratism or intrigue for achieving exclusively personal or group interests. People are already tired of all of this. They understand better that genuine democracy and market are completely opposed to the passions aroused by mass meetings or policies of confrontation. The people no longer want to support those who do not concentrate on specific and fruitful work. Deputy Prime Minister on Encouraging Signs in Economy LD1612121494 Almaty SOVETY KAZAKHSTANA in Russian 13 Dec 94 p 1 [Unattributed article: “The Forecasts Raise Hopes”™] This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 [FBIS Translated Text] The republic’s sick economy is showing the first symptoms of getting well. This conclu- sion can be drawn from the results of the news confer- ence held by Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Sobolev last Friday [9 December]. First, the fact that we managed to stop the fall in industrial production to some extent gives hope. Last year, compared to 1992, there was a 24 percent drop; this year, compared to 1993, there was a 14 percent drop. And if we take the last three months, a slight increase can be seen. A similar increase can be observed in retail turnover. Moreover, it is typical that having become joint-stock companies, many industrial enterprises switch to market relations and use nontraditional methods. The experi- ence, for example, of the Merey furniture factory situ- ated in the capital is significant: it managed to find a foreign partner and convince it of the profitability of joint production. Today, investments from the devel- oped capitalist country help the furniture makers keep afloat and conduct their business rather profitably and sell their produce not only in Kazakhstan but in the near abroad as well. As before, the raw material branches of industry are operating stably. The extraction of iron ore, coal, and gas is being increased. There are customers for our copper. Tractor production is increasing. However, the problem of payments to neighboring countries for produce is still acute. Let us say that the residents of the capital have experienced all the “delights” of mutual payments for Uzbek gas, finding themselves short of it during the winter frosts. But extraordinary approaches have appeared in the issue of payments. The practice, for example, of the Russian Tveruniversnab and Ekibastuz Ugolbank deserves only approval; they pay for each other’s produce with prom- issory notes. And although the form of the payments has not been worked out on the scale of the two countries and the nominal cost of the bills has not yet been determined, everything has been decided at the level of the two commercial structures. The dynamics of our wages growth also gives grounds for optimism. Strange though it may seem, it has out- stripped inflation on average as well. In November, the general level of inflation was 114.2 percent while the rate of wage growth was 126.1 percent. It is also interesting that our wages lead the wages race in the CIS. Since the beginning of this year to November they increased in Kyrgyzstan by 1.85 times, in Russia by 2.2, in Uzbeki- stan by 5, and in Ukraine by 7; in Kazakhstan they increased by 9.4 times. Here the reader has the right to smile ironically because we all know too well that Russian wages are higher than Kazakh wages. And this is true. As is the fact that Turkmen wages outstripped both. Here is some objective statistical data: With his month’s salary a resident of CENTRAL ASIA 61 Turkmenistan can buy eight consumer baskets of the eight most necessary foodstuffs, a Russian can buy 4.26 such baskets, and a resident of Kazakhstan only 3.59. It is true that comparison with other republics of the CIS is in our favor. For example, an Uzbek and a Moldovan can buy only 1.8 such baskets but a Kyrgyz even less— 1.6. That is, we are ahead of them here. Despite the gloomy forecasts of the skeptics, our national monetary unit is gradually strengthening its position as well. At any rate, the republic has not experienced anything like “Black Tuesday” yet, which hit the Russian ruble hard. Moreover, the tenge is holding steady at 50-55 to the dollar while the Russian currency is falling several points daily. And though our national currency is being pushed into a secondary role by dollars and marks and it often has to play ihe role of Cinderella, this will change radically if the Cabinet of Ministers accepts the proposal of the National Bank to make our monetary unit the sole means of payment in the republic from | January 1995, as has already been reported earlier. Answering my question about to whether the govern- ment will support this, the deputy prime minister said unambiguously: “The Cabinet of Ministers itself initi- ated this step. It is wrong for certain people to make fortunes on the differences in rates. The tenge will become the complete master of the ball in the interests of the state and the majority of us, starting from the New Year.” As you can see, the signs of stabilization of Kazakhstan’s economy are present and the government's forecasts made before the New Year give cause for hope—as long as nothing unpredicted happens. As the saying goes, God forbid it should go wrong... Kyrgyzstan Uzbeks Play Political Games With Gas Supply LD1712143094 Bishkek VECHERNIY BISHKEK in Russian 17 Dec 94 pl {Unattributed article: “Major Games Using Gas”] {FBIS Translated Text] The gas crisis Kyrgyzstan is experiencing is far from being an accident. And it has been caused not only by economic reasons. As in past years Tashkent is beginning to turn off the taps at the beginning of winter. It is interesting that these games began in the Soviet period. There were periods when Leonid Brezhnev several times arbitrated between Kyr- gyzstan and Uzbekistan. Moscow pressured Kyrgyzstan if we turned off the water from the Toktogul reservoir, and Uzbekistan if the supply of fuel was lessened. Kyrgyzstan today is the most exemplary payer in the CIS. Bishkek has paid Tashkent 80 percent of the cost of fuel used. Refrigerated trucks with selected meat and trains loaded with glass and other goods are despatched This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 62 CENTRAL ASIA to Uzbekistan every day. Moreover the representatives of the government of the neighboring republic are free to pick and choose. And making use of this state of affairs, they are over-picky in their approach to every type of goods proposed by Kyrgyzstan. For our part the water supply to Ferghana has not veen stopped either last year or this summer. If such a thing were to happen, Kyrgyzstan could have turned the most densely populated regions of Uzbekistan to salt, and Tashkent could have lost thousands of tonnes of agricul- tural production sent from Ferghana for export. But.... We will quote some figures for the sake of clarity. Now our republic owes 12 million doliars to Uzbekistan for gas, Georgia owes 350 million dollars, Armenia owes 200 million dollars to Turkmenistan, Belarus owes up to three billion dollars to Russia, and Ukraine owes about 1 billion dollars just to Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan has not yet stopped fuel supplies to any countries yet. The same Uzbekistan has never turned off the pipelines to the European part of the CIS, despite a major accident in Karakalpakstan last week. There was a major gas leak in the pipeline supplying the European part of the CIS. And at the same time energy supplies to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are permanently reduced every winter. The reason is the political games Tashkent plays. Islam Karimov does not tire of reminding his neighbors who is the guarantor of stability and the first claimant to the leading role in Central Asia. How many years and winters wiil this game continue? Obviously, until Kyrgyzstan becomes completely self- sufficient in electricity. This will be much cheaper and more reliable. For now, if inhabitants were to pay the full cost of gas, then they would have to pay an average of 500 soms per month. For the time being the gas supply issue has been resolved until the end of the year, as the government has reported. Soon the Kyrgyz delegation will leave for Tashkent to agree on gas supplies for next year. Diplomatic Relations Established With Kuwait LD1512131094 Bishkek Kyrgyz Radio First Program Network in Russian 1000 GMT 15 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Text] A protocol on establishing dip- lomatic relations at embassy level between the Kyrgyz Republic and the State of Kuwait was signed yesterday [14 December] at the Kuwaiti Embassy in the Russian Federation, Moscow. The protocol was signed on behalf of the Kyrgyz Government by Akmatbek Nanayev, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Kyr- gyzstan to Russia, and on behalf of the Kuwaiti Govern- ment by Fawzi al-Jasim, the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Kuwait to Russia. Kuwait is the 84th state of the world that has established diplomatic relations with our republic. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Kazakh Embassy Opens in Bishkek LD1612161594 Bishkek Kyrgyz Radio First Program Network in Russian 1000 GMT 16 Dec 94 [FBIS Translated Excerpt] A solemn ceremony in honor of the official opening of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the Kyrgyz Republic was held in Bishkek today. Mem- bers of the government, representatives from the public, diplomats accredited in the capital, municipal authori- ties, and other guests were invited. Kuanysh Sultanov, vice chairman of the Kazakh Supreme Soviet, lead the delegation of the neighboring state, which included the first Kazakh cosmonaut, Aubakyrov, deputies, heads of regional and district state administrations, officials of the Foreign Ministry, cul- tural workers, and journalists. Mukhtar Shakhanov, Kazakhstan’s ambassador extraor- dinary and plenipotentiary to the Kyrgyz Republic and well-known poet, opened the ceremony. Kyrgyz Presi- dent Askar Akayev made a speech of welcome to those present. [passage omitted] a Signs Edict on Local Heads of Bishkek, LD1612172894 Bishkek Kyrgyz Radio First Program Network in Russian 1400 GMT 16 Dec 94 [Decree “On the Heads of Local Administration in Bishkek and Osh” signed by President Askar Akayev; place and date not given} [FBIS Translated Text] With a view to further devel- oping local self-government and improving relations with the state authority in the cities that are the largest local associations in the country and play a special role in its public, political, and cultural life—Bishkek, the cap- ital of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Osh, the political and historical center in the south of Kyrgyzstan—I decree: 1. The heads of local self-government in Bishkek and Osh are the highest officials in local self-government and the representatives of the president of the Kyrgyz Republic in these cities. They are accountable for con- ducting state policy and implementing executive power there. 2. The heads of local self-government in Bishkek and Osh shall be elected directly by the people of these cities for a term of five years. 3. The post of the head of the local state administration is abolished in Bishkek and Osh. 4. Candidates for head of local self-government in Bishkek and Osh are put up for election by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on an alternative basis, following consultations with Bishkek and Osh city councils. 5. Elections of the heads of local self-government in Bishkek and Osh are to be held on 5 February 1995. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 6. The first deputy head and deputy heads of local self-government in Bishkek and Osh shall be appointed by the heads of local self-government of these cities in agreement with the relevant councils. 7. The status of the heads of local self government of Bishkek and Osh is regulated by the law of the Kyrgyz Republic on local self-government and local state aamin- istration in the Kyrgyz Republic. 8. The organization and conduct of elections of the heads of local self-government in Bishkek and Osh is placed on the Central Electoral Commission for holding referen- dums and elections in the Kyrgyz republic. 9. This decree comes into force upon publication. [signed] Askar Akayev, president of the Kyrgyz Republic. Tajikistan Rakhmanov Returns From ICO Summit in Casablanca LD1812111194 Dushanbe Radio Tajikistan Network in Tajik 0800 GMT 18 Dec 94 {[FBIS Translated Excerpt] Tajik President Emomali Rakhmanov, returned to Dushanbe from Casablanca, Morocco. He attended the summit of the Islamic Con- ference Organization (ICO) member-states. [passage omitted] Yesterday, Rakhmanov spoke on Tajik television on the results of his visit. Muslims Warn Chechen Bloodshed Could Trigger Caucasian War LD1712165094 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1454 GMT 17 Dec 94 {[FBIS Transcribed Text] Moscow, Dec 17 (INTER- FAX) —Continuation of the bloodshed in Chechnya can repeat the Afghan tragedy and can lead to a great Caucasian war, the responsibility for this war will be placed on the present Russian leadership, says the state- ment of the Movement for Islamic Revival of Tajikistan adopted on December 16. The Movement for Islamic Revival of Tajikistan cate- gorically condemns Russia’s military aggression against Chechnya and demands that the Russian leadership should urgently withdraw its forces and resolve all prob- lems by political means. The leadership of the Move- ment called on the world community, and prim::-‘ly the states of the former Soviet Union, not to be cutside supervisors of this tragedy. The military operation of the Russian army, the state- ment continues, reminds the events of the 1992-93 winter in Tajikistan when dozens of cities and villages were destroyed and hundreds thousands of civil citizens CENTRAL ASIA 63 were forced to leave their native places. In Chechnya unarmed people, women and children, as in any war, are the first victims. Text of Tajik Constitution LDI1512114094 Khudzhand LENINABADSKAYA PRAVDA in Russian 30 Nov 94 pl [Text of the Tajik Constitution adopted on 6 November 1994] . {[FBIS Translated Text] [Preamble] We, the people of Tajikistan, as an inseparable part of the world commu- nity, seeing ourselves responsible and duty bound to past, present, and future generations, wishing to ensure the sovereignty, development, and perfection of our state; recognizing the rights and freedoms of the indi- vidual as sacred; affirming the equality of rights and friendship of all nationalities and peoples of Tajikistan; seeking to built a just society; adopt and declare as valid this constitution. Chapter One. Fundamentals of the Constitutional Structure Article 1. The Republic of Tajikistan is a sovereign, democratic, law-governed, secular, and unitary state. Tajikistan is a social state, its policy is aimed at pro- viding relevant living conditions for everybody. The names Republic of Tajikistan and Tajikistan are of equal validity. Article 2. The state language of Tajikistan is Tajik. Russian is a language of communication between the nationalities. All nationalities and peoples living on the territory of the republic are entitled freely to use their mother tongue. Article 3. The state symbols of the Republic of Tajikistan are the flag, emblem, and national anthem. Article 4. The capital of Tajikistan is the city of Dus- hanbe. Article 5. The life, honor, dignity, and other rights of the individual are sacred. Recognition, observance, and protection of human and civil rights and freedoms is the obligation of the state. Article 6. In Tajikistan the people are the expression of sovereignty and the sole source of power of the state, and they exercise them directly or through their representa- tives. The citizens of Tajikistan, despite their nationalities, make up the people of Tajikistan. No social association, group of people, or individual has the right to seize state power. The seizure of power is the gravest crime. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 64 CENTRAL ASIA Only the president and the Supreme Assembly [Majlis-e Oli] has the right to speak on behalf of all the people of Tajikistan. Article 7. The territory of Tajikistan is indivisible and inviolable. Tajikistan consists of Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, oblasts, towns, rayons, settlements, and villages. The state ensures the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the republic. Agitation and actions aimed at disunity of the state are prohibited. The constitutional law defines the procedure of estab- lishing and changing of administrative and border units. Article 8. In Tajikistan public life is to develop on the basis of political and ideological diversity. No ideology, including religious ideology, is granted the status of state ideology. Social associations are established and will function within the framework of the constitution and laws. The state provides equal opportunities for their activities. Religious organizations are separate from the state and cannot interfere with state affairs. The establishment and /; nctioning of social associations that encourage racism, nationalism, social and religious enmity, and hatred, as well as advocate the forcible overthrow of the constitutional structures and the for- mation of armed groups is prohibited. Article 9. State power is exercised on the basis of the separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers. Article 10. The Constitution of Tajikistan has supreme legal authority and its norms have direct application. Laws and other legal acts that run counter to the consti- tution are of no legal validity. The state and all its bodies, officials, citizens, and their associations are duty bound to observe and implement the constitution and laws of the republic. International legal documents recognized by Tajikistan are a constituent part of the legal system of the republic. If republican laws do not conform to the recognized international legal documents, the norms of the interna- tional documents apply. International laws and documents recognized by Tajiki- stan apply following official publication. Article 11. Tajikistan will implement a peaceful policy, respecting the sovereignty and independence of other states of the world and will determine foreign relations on the basis of international norms. Agitation of war is prohibited. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Proceeding from the supreme interests of the people, Tajikistan can join or withdraw from international asso- ciations and organizations and establish relations with foreign countries. The state will cooperate with compatriots living abroad. Article 12. The economy of Tajikistan is based on various forms of ownership. The state will guarantee freedom of economic activity, entrepreneurship, equality of rights, and the protection of all forms of ownership including private ownership. Article 13. Land, bowels of the earth, water, airspace, animal and vegetable kingdoms, and other natural resources are owned by the state, and the state guaran- tees their effective use in the interests of the people. Chapter Two. Basic Duties of Individuals and Citizens Article 14. The freedoms and rights of individuals and citizens are protected by the constitution, the laws of the republic, and international documents recognized by Tajikistan. In implementing rights and freedoms, limitations in the constitution and laws are allowed only to ensure the rights and freedoms of others, public order, and to safeguard the constitutional structure and the territorial integrity of the republic. Article 15. A person will be regarded as a citizen of Tajikistan if he is a citizen of the Republic of Tajikistan on the day of adoption of the constitution. Any connection between the citizensh‘p of Tajikistan and the citizenship of another state is not recognized, except in cases indicated by the law and interstate treaties of Tajikistan. The procedure for acquiring and forfeiting citizenship is defined by law. Article 16. A citizen of Tajikistan outside the country will be protected by the state. No citizen of the republic will be extradited to a foreign state. Extradition of a criminal to a foreign state will be resolved on the basis of mutual agreement. Foreign citizens and stateless persons enjoy the rights and freedoms and have the responsibilities and duties of citizens of Tajikistan except in cases stipulated by law. Tajikistan will offer political asylum to foreign citizens whose human rights are violated. Article 17. All are equal before the law and the courts. The state guarantees the rights and freedoms of every person regardless of nationality, race, sex, language, religious beliefs, political persuasion, social status, knowledge, and property. Men and women have the same rights. Article 18. Every person has the right to life. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 No one can be deprived of life except by order of the court for the gravest crime. The state guarantees the inviolability of a person. No one will be subjected to torture, punishment, and inhuman treatment. It is prohibited to subject a person to forced medical or scientific experiments. Article 19. Every person is guaranteed judicial protec- tion. Every person is entitled to demand that his case be considered by a competent and impartial court. No one can be arrested, kept in custody, and exiled without a legal basis. Every person is entitled to legal assistance from the moment of his arrest. Article 20. No one is adjudged guilty of a crime except by the sentence of a court in accordance with the law. No one carries responsibility if the term of investigation expires or his committed action is not regarded as a crime. No one can be tried twice for a crime. A law that is adopted after the commission of an illegal act by a person and that envisages severe punishment for that act shall not be retroactive. If, after the commission of an illegal act a punishment is not envisaged or a light punishment is envisaged, the new law is applicable. Total confiscation of the property of a convicted person is prohibited. Article 21. The law shall safeguard the rights of the victim. The state guarantees judicial protection and compensa- tion to the victim. Article 22. The home of a person is inviolable. It is prohibited to enter the home of a person by force and deprive a person of a home except in cases pre- scribed by law. Article 23. Privacy of correspondence, telephone conver- sations, and the postal and communication rights of each person are ensured, except in cases prescribed by law. The collection, storage, utilization, and dissemination of information about a person’s private life without his consent is not permitted. Article 24. Every citizen has the right freely to choose their place of residence, to leave the republic, and to return to it. Article 25. State bodies, social associations, and officials are obliged to ensure that every person has the opportu- nity to seek and see documents affecting their rights and interests except in cases prescribed the by law. Article 26. Every person has the right freely to determine their position toward religion, to profess any religion individually or together with others or not to profess any, and to take part in religious customs and ceremonies. CENTRAL ASIA 65 Article 27. Every citizen has the right to take part in political life and state administration directly or via their representatives. Citizens have equal rights to state service. Every citizen has the right to elect and be elected from the age of 18. Citizens deemed incompetent by a court or who have been deprived of liberty in accordance with a court sentence do not have the right to take part in the elections and referendums. Elections and referendums are held on the basis of universal, equal, and direct suffrage in a secret ballot. Article 28. Every person has the right to be united. A person has the right to join in voluntarily and leave political parties, trade unions, and other social associa- tions. Article 29. Citizens have the right to take part in meet- ings, rallies, demonstrations, and peaceful processions prescribed by law. No one can be forced to take part in the aforementioned activities. Article 30. Every person is guaranteed freedom of speech, publishing, and the right to use means of mass information. State censorship and prosecution for criticism is prohib- ited. The list of information constituting a state secret is specified by law. Article 31. A citizen has the right to apply personally or together with a group of people to the authorities. Article 32. Every person has the right to ownership and inheritance. No one is permitted to suspend and limit the individ- ual’s right to ownership. The property of an individual is taken away only on the basis of the '«, with the consent of the owner and to meet the requirements of the state and society, and with the state paying full compensation. Any material and spiritual damage inflicted on an indi- vidual as a result of illegal actions by state bodies, social associations, or individuals will be compensated in accordance with the law. Article 33. The state protects the family as the basis of society. Every person has the right to form a family. Men and women who have reached the age of marriage have the right freely to marry without any hindrance. In marriage and in divorce, husband and wife have equal rights. Polygamy is prohibited. Article 34. A mother and child are entitled to special care and protection by the state. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 66 CENTRAL ASIA Parents are responsible for the upbringing of children, and adult children of working age are responsible for care and provision of parents. The state cares for the protection, upbringing, and edu- cation of orphaned children. Article 35. Every person has the right to work, to choose their profession or job, and to have work protection. Wages for work cannot be less than the minimum wage. Any limitation is prohibited in labor relations. Equal wages shall be paid for the same work. Forced labor is not permitted, except in cases defined by law. Using women and child labor is prohibited in heavy and underground works and in harmful conditions. Article 36. Every person has the right to housing. This right is ensured by means of construction of state, public, cooperative and private housing. Article 37. Every person has the right to leisure. This right is ensured by establishing working weeks, hours and days, paid annual leaves, weekly days off, and other conditions prescribed by law. Article 38. Every person has the right to health care. This right is ensured by providing free medical assistance in state medical establishments and by measures aimed at protecting environment, developing mass sport, physical training, and tourism. Other types of medical assistance one can receive are defined by law. Article 39. Every person is guaranteed social security in old age, in the event of sickness and disability, loss of ability to work, or loss of a guardian or other instances prescribed by law. Article 40. Every person has the right freely to take part in the cultural life of society; artistic, scientific, and technical creation; and to use their achievements. The state protects cultural and spiritual riches. Intellectual property is protected by law. Article 41. Every person has the right to education. The basic general education is compulsory. The state guaran- tees access to free general, vocational, and according to abilities based on competition, general specialized and higher education in the state educational establishments. Other forms of acquiring education are defined by law. Article 42. On the territory of Tajikistan every person is obliged to observe the constitution and the laws and to recognize the rights, freedoms, dignity, and honor of others. Ignorance of the law is no defense. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Article 43. The protection of the homeland; safeguarding the interests of the state; and strengthening the indepen- dence, security, and defense capabilities of the homeland are the sacred duties of citizens. The procedure for military service is specified by law. Article 44. The protection of natural, historical, and cultural heritage are the duties of every person. Article 45. Every person is obliged to pay taxes and duties specified by law. Laws introducing new taxes or making the economic situation of the taxpayer difficult cannot retroactive. Article 46. A state of emergency is declared as a tempo- rary measure to ensure the citizens’ and state’s security in instances of direct threat to the rights and freedom of citizens, the state’s independence, its territorial integrity, and natural disasters, that result in the republic’s consti- tutional authorities being unable to act normally. The period of a state of emergency is up to three months. The president of Tajikistan can prolong this period in necessary circumstances. Article 47. During a state of emergency the rights and freedoms stipulated in Articles 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 25, and 28 of the constitution are not limited. The Supreme Assembly is not dispersed during the period of a state of emergency. The law determines the legal regime of a state of emer- gency. Chapter Three. The Supreme Assembly [Majlis-e Oli] Article 48. The Supreme Assembly is the highest repre- sentative and legislative body of the Republic of Tajiki- stan. The Supreme Assembly is elected for a five-year term. A citizen can be elected to the Supreme Assembly when he reaches the age of 25. The establishment and activity of the Supreme Assembly are specified by law. Article 49. The powers of the Supreme Assembly: 1. The enactment and amending of laws and orders and their annulment; 2. Interpretation of the constitution and laws; 3. Determination of the basic directions of the republic’s domestic and foreign policy; 4. Establishment of the Central Electoral and Refer- endum Commission; 5. Specifying the date for a referendum; 6. Suggesting draft laws and other important issues of the state and society for a nationwide referendum; This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 7. Specifying the date for election of the president; 8. Specifying the date for election of higher and local representative bodies; 9. Approving the establishment and abolition of minis- tries and state committees; 10. Ratification of the decrees of the president on appointment and dismissal of the prime minister and other members of the government; 11. Ratification of the decrees of the president on appointment and dismissal of the chairman of the National Bank and his deputies; 12. Election and removal of the chairman, deputy chairmen, and judges of the Constitutional Court; the Supreme Court; and the Supreme Economic Court at the proposal of the president of the republic; 13. Approving the election and removal of the procu- rator general and his Geputies; 14. Ratification of socioeconomic programs and approval of economic assistance to other states; 15. Ratification of the state budget; determination of the possible amount of the state budget deficit and the sources of compensation for it; supervision over execu- tion of the budget, determination of taxation and loan policy; 16. Specifying the monetary system; 17. Specifying the structure, establishing, abolishing, and changing administrative territorial units in necessary circumstances; 18. Ratification and annulment of international treaties; 19. Establishment of courts; 20. Ratification of the decrees of the president on a state of war and a state of emergency; 21. Establishing state awards; 22. Establishing military and diplomatic ranks and other special titles; 23. Approval of state symbols; 24. Declaration of general amnesty; 25. Annulment of the decrees of the presidium of the Supreme Assembly contradicting the constitution and other laws; 26. Implementation of uther duties prescribed by the constitution and laws. Article 50. The basic form of the activity of the Supreme Assembly is the session. A session of the Supreme Assembly is convened by the presidium of the Supreme Assembly not less twice a year. CENTRAL ASIA 67 A session of the Supreme Assembly convenes only when attended by at least two-thirds of the people’s deputies. The first session of the Supreme Assembly is convened by the Central Electoral and Referendum Commission one month after the election of people’s deputies. Article 51. For the purpose of organizing the work of the Supreme Assembly and the implementation of the powers stipulated by the constitution and the laws, the Presidium of the Supreme Assembly under the leader- ship of the Supreme Assembly chairman will be estab- lished. The composition of the Presidium of the Supreme Assembly includes the Supreme Assembly chairman, first deputy chairman, deputy chairmen, and chairmen of the committees and standing commissions of the Su >reme Assembly. The Supreme Assembly can elect other people’s deputies as members of the Presidium of the Supreme Assembly. Article 52. The Presidium of the Supreme Assembly has authority: 1. To convene of the Supreme Assembly; 2. To prepare for sessions of the Supreme Assembly; 3. To coordinate the work of the committees and standing commissions of the Supreme Assembly; 4. To organize interparliamentary relations; 5. To oversee the activities of the publications of the Supreme Assembly and to appoint and dismiss editors- in-chief of the publications; 6. To approve the appointment or recall of the heads of diplomatic missions of Tajikistan in foreign countries and republican missions at international organizations; 7. To implement other powers stipulated in the consti- tution an¢ other laws. The Presidium of the Supreme Assembly adopts deci- sions within the framework of its authority. Article 53. The Supreme Assembly elects from among the people’s deputies the chairman of the Supreme Assembly, first deputy chairman, deputy chairmen, and chairmen of the committees and standing commissions of the Supreme Assembly. One of the deputy chairmen of the Supreme Assembly will be a people’s deputy repre- senting Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. The chairman of the Supreme Assembly will be elected by a secret ballot by a majority of the total number of people’s deputies. Article 54. The chairman of the Supreme Assembly has authority: 1. To exercise leadership and direction over issues that will be discussed at the sessions; This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 68 CENTRAL ASIA 2. To preside at the sessions of the Supreme Assembly and meetings of its Presidium; 3. To nominate the first deputy chairman, deputy chairmen, and chairmen of the committees and standing commissions of the Supreme Assembly; 4. To sign the decisions of the Supreme Assembly and of its Presidium; 5. To represent the Supreme Assembly inside the country and abroad; 6. To sign interparliamentary agreements; 7. To direct the apparatus of the Supreme Asser-uly and to give orders; 8. To implement other powers stipulated in the consti- tution and laws. Article 55. The first deputy chairman and deputy chairmen of the Supreme Assembly will carry out the duties of the chairman at the latter’s instructions. In the absence of the chairman, the first deputy chairman carries out his duties. Article 56. The Supreme Assembly will elect from among the people’s deputies committees and standing commis- sions to prepare draft laws and to implement supervisory duties and preliminary preparation and discussion of the issues. The Supreme Assembly, in the event of necessity, will establish auditing and investigation commissions and other temporary commissions. Article 57. An official is obliged to provide a people’s deputy with information he needs to carry out his duties except in cases stipulated by law. A people's deputy can express his opinion freely and vote according to his belief. Article 58. A people’s deputy who is working for the Supreme Assembly on a permanent basis cannot hold any other post, except for scientific and creative activi- ties, and cannot engage in entrepreneurial activity. Citizens of Tajikistan cannot hold two posts in the representative authority at the same time. Article 59. A people’s deputy has the right of immunity. He cannot be taken into custody, arrested, or incur a court-imposed penalty without the sanction of the Supreme Assembly. A people’s deputy cannot be arrested without the sanction of the Supreme Assembly with the exception of arrest while committing a crime. The authority of a people’s deputy will terminate at his resignation or when he is proclaimed incapable by a court or by a valid decision of the Supreme Assembly. The legal status of a people’s deputy is defined by law. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Article 60. People’s deputies, the president, government, constitutional court, Supreme Court, Supreme Eco- nomic Court, and the Assembly of People’s Deputies of Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast have the right to legislate. Article 61. The law of Tajikistan and the decision of the Supreme Assembly are adopted by the majority vote of the total number of people’s deputies. Laws will be adopted by at least two-thirds of the total number of people's deputies. Article 62. A law of Tajikistan is proposed to the president for signing. If the president does not agree with the law he should return it within 15 days to the Supreme Assembly with reasons and objections. If the Supreme Assembly once again approves the law with at least two-thirds majority of people’s deputies, the president will sign it. If the president does not return the law within the prescribed period, he is duty bound to sign it. Article 63. The Supreme Assembly can be voluntarily suspended before its term ends with at least two-thirds of the vote of people’s deputies. In any case the authority of the people’s deputies of Tajikistan terminates on the first day of the session of the new Supreme Assembly. Chapter Four. The President Article 64. The president of the Republic of Tajikistan is the head of state and executive authority. The president is the protector of the constitution, laws, and rights and freedoms of the citizens; the guarantor of national independence, unity, territorial integrity, sta- bility, and continuity of the state; and the ensurer of the functioning of the bodies of state power and Tajikistan’s observance of international treaties. Article 65. The president is elected by the citizens of Tajikistan on the basis of universal, direct, and equal suffrage in a secret ballot for a five-year term. Any citizen aged between 35 and 65 who knows the state language and has lived on the territory of Tajikistan at least for the past 10 years can be nominated to the post of president of the republic. Only a person whose nom- ination is signed by at least five percent of the electorate shall be eligible for candidacy to the post of president. A person may not be elected to the office of president for more than two consecutive terms. Article 66. The election of the president is deemed valid if more than half of the electorate take part in it. A candidate who wins votes with more than half of the voters taking part in the elections shal! br the president. Tire procedure for the election of the president is speci- fied by law. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Article 67. The president, before assuming office, takes the following oath in the Supreme Assembly: “I, as president, do solemnly swear to comply with the constitution and the laws of the republic; to guarantee the rights, freedoms, honor, and dignity of the citizens; to protect territorial integrity and political, economic, and cultural independence of Tajikistan; and to sincerely serve the people.” The authority of the president terminates with the swear- ing-in of the new president. Article 68. The president cannot take up any other job. He cannot serve as a deputy of representative bodies and canr >t engage in entrepreneurial activity. The salary of the president is fixed by the Supreme Assembly. Article 69. The president has authority: 1. To represent Tajikistan inside the country and in international relations; 2. To establish or abolish ministries and state commit- tees with the approval of the Supreme Assembly; 3. To appoint and dismiss the prime minister and other members of the government and to propose them for approval to the Supreme Assembly; 4. To appoint and dismiss the chairman of the National Bank and his deputies and to propose them for approval to the Supreme Assembly; 5. To form the executive apparatus of the presidency; 6. To appoint and dismiss the chairmen of the Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, oblasts, city cf Dus- hanbe, towns and rayons, and to propose them for approval to the relevant assemblies of people’s deputies. 7. To nominate the chairman, deputy chairman, and judges of the Constitutional Court; the chairman, deputy chairman, and judges of the Supreme Court; the chairman, deputy chairman, and judges of the Supreme Economic Court; and propose them for appointment and recall to the Supreme Assembly; 8. To appoint and dismiss the procurator general and his deputies by the consent of the Supreme Assembly; 9. To appoint and dismiss the judges of the military courts, courts of Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, oblasts, city of Dushanbe, towns, and rayons at the proposal of the justice minister; 10. To be in charge of the reserve fund and inform the Supreme Assembly about its expenditure; 11. To make proposals to the Supreme Assembly to determine the monetary system; 12. To sign laws; CENTRAL ASIA 69 13. To annul or suspend documents of state administra- tion if they contradict the constitution and laws; 14. To lead the implementation of foreign policy, sign international treaties, and submit them for approval to the Supreme Assembly; 15. To appoint with the approval of the Presidium of the Supreme Assembly the heads of diplomatic missions in foreign countries and representatives of the republic in international organizations; 16. To accept the credentials of foreign diplomatic missions; 17. To be supreme commander in chief of the armed forces of Tajikistan; to appoint and dismiss commanders of the armed forces of Tajikistan; 18. In the event of real danger threatening the security of the state to declare a state of war and immediately submit the decree to the Supreme Assembly for approval; 19. To declare a state of emergency throughout the republic or in separate parts of it and propose it to the Supreme Assembly immediately for approval and to inform the United Nations Organization; 20. To establish and lead the Security Council; 21. To offer political asylum; 22. To resolve the issues of citizenship; 23. To issue pardon from punishment: 24. To award higher military, diplomatic, and other special ranks; 25. To award to citizens state prizes and honorary titles of Tajikistan; 26. To implement other powers prescribed in the consti- tution and laws. Article 70. The president adopts orders and decrees within the framework of his authority, informs the Supreme Assembly about the country’s situation, and submits necessary and important issues for discussion to the Supreme Assembly. Article 71. In the circumstances of the president's death, resignation, removal from office, or inability to perform his duties, the duties of the president will be the respon- sibility of the chairman of the Supreme Assembly until new presidential elections. In this circumstance, the duties of the Supreme Assembly chairman will be the responsibility of his first deputy. Presidential elections will be held within three months in the aforementioned circumstances. Issues related to inability of the president to perform his duties will be resolved by the majority of people’s This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 70 CENTRAL ASIA deputies at the session of the Supreme Assembly, except cases that are stipulated in Article 72. Article 72. The president enjoys immunity. In the circumstances of breaking his oath and commit- ting a crime, the president can be removed from his office by the Supreme Assembly, taking into account conclusions of the Constitutional Court and the special commission of the Supreme Assembly with the support of at least two-thirds of the people’s deputies. Issues related to the breaking of the presidential oath and commission of a crime should be put forward by at least one-third of people’s deputies. In such circumstances the duties of the chairman of the Supreme Assembly’s spe- cial session are laid upon the chairman of the Supreme Court. The people’s deputies take an oath that they will act with a clear conscience and within the framework of the law and justice during the discussion of this issue. The investigation continues after the president is removed from his office; he is accused and his criminal case is sent to court. Chapter Five. The Government Article 73. The composition of the government consists of the prime minister, his first deputy, deputies, minis- ters, and chairmen of state committees. The government ensures the successful leadership of economic, social, and spiritual spheres and the imple- mentation of laws and decrees of the Supreme Assembly and orders and decrees of the president of Tajikistan. The members of the government cannot perform any other duties, be deputies of representative authorities, or engage in entrepreneurship. Article 74. The government issues orders and decrees in accordance with the constitution and laws of the republic, the implementation of which is compulsory in the territory of Tajikistan. The government leaves office when a new president is elected. The government can ask the president for its resignation if it deems necessary that it cannot function normally. Every member of the government has the right to resign. The law determines the structure, activity, and authority of the government. Article 75. The government submits to the Supreme Assembly economic and social programs, policies of granting state loan and economic assistance to other countries, draft state budgets, and issues related to an acceptable amount of the state budget deficit and its compensation source. Chapter Six. Local Government Article 76. Local government consists of representative and executive authorities and functions within the FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 framework of its authorities. They ensure the implemen- tation of the constitution, laws, and decrees of the Supreme Assembly and the president. Article 77. The local representative authority in oblasts, towns, and rayons is the assembly of people's deputies, which is chaired by the chairman. The people’s deputies of the local assembly are elected for a five-year term. The assembly of people’s deputies approves the local budget and reports on its implementation, determines the ways of economic and social development of the area, determines in accordance with the law local taxes and their payments, determines the ways of ruling and possessing communal properties within the framework of the law, and implements other powers prescribed in the constitution and laws. Article 78. The local executive government is governed by the president’s representative chairman of oblast, town, and rayon. The representative and executive authority in adminis- trative and border units is headed by the chairman. The president is to appoint and dismiss chairmen of the Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, oblasts, city of Dushanbe, towns, and rayons and to propose them for approval to the relevant assemblies of people's deputies. The chairman is responsible before the higher executive bodies and relevant assembly of people's deputies. The self government authority of a settlement and village is local organization [jamoat]. The law regulates the structure, authorities, and activity of local government. Article 79. The representative authority and the chairman adopt legal documents within the framework of their authority, the implementation of which is com- pulsory in that territory. In the case of the documents not conforming to the constitution and law, the documents of the representa- tive authorities and the chairman are revoked by the aforementioned authorities or the court. Article 80. The Supreme Assembly can dissolve the assembly of people’s deputies of the Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, oblasts, city of Dushanbe, towns, and rayons and hold new elections if the latter does not fulfill constantly the demands of the constitution and law. Chapter Seven. The Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast Article 81. The Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast is an integral and indivisible part of the Republic of Tajikistan. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 The territory of the Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast cannot be changed without the consent of the assembly of people's deputies. Article 82. The people’s deputies of Tajikistan from the Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast will be elected in accordance with norms stipulated in the law despite the number of the population. Article 83. The law regulates the powers of the Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast in social, economic, and cultural spheres and other powers of the oblast. Chapter Eight. The Court Article 83. The judicial power is independent and pro- tects the rights and freedom of a person, the state’s interests, organizations and establishments, legality, and justice. Article 84. The judicial power is implemented by the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Supreme Eco- nomic Court, Military Court, Court of Gornyy Bada- khshan Autonomous Oblast, courts of oblasts, the city of Dushanbe, towns, and rayons. The law determines the structure and activity of the court. The term of authority of the judges is five years. The creation of emergency courts is not permitted. Article 85. Citizens who have attained the age of 30 and are no older than 60 and have at least five years’ experience in the legal profession may be elected as the judges of the Supreme Court, Supreme Economic Court, Military Court, courts of oblasts, and the city of Dus- hanbe. Citizens who have attained the age of 25 and are no older than 60 and have at least three years’ experience in the legal profession can be elected the judges of towns and rayons. Article 86. The president appoints and removes from office the judges of the Military Court, courts of Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, oblasts, the city of Dushanbe, towns, and rayons by proposals of the min- ister of justice. Article 87. Judges are independent and are subordinate only to the constitution and law. Interference in their activity is not permitted. Article 88. Judges consider cases collectively or individ- ually. Court proceedings are carried out on the basis of the adversarial system and the equal rights of the parties. The examination of cases in all courts is open except the cases that are stipulated in law. Court proceedings take place in the official language or the language of the majority of the population of the place. Those people who do not know the language of the court proceedings are provided with translators. CENTRAL ASIA 71 Article 89. The Constitutional Court consists of seven judges, one of whom is a representative of the Gornyy Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast. Citizens who have attained the age of 30 and are no older than 60 and who have 10 years’ experience in the legal profession may be judges of the Constitutional Court. The powers of the Constitutional Court are: 1. To determine the conformity of laws and legal docu- ments of the Supreme Assembly, the president, govern- ment, Supreme Court, Supreme Economic Court, and other state and social authorities, as well as agreements that have not entered into force in Tajikistan. 2. To resolve disputes between the state power on their authority; 3. To implement other duties stipulated by law. A decision of the Constitutional Court is final. Article 90. Judges cannot perform other duties; be dep- uties of representative authorities, members of political parties and organizations; or engage in entrepreneurship except scientific, teaching, and creative work. Article 91. Judges enjoy immunity. A judge may not be subjected to arrest and criminal proceedings without the permission of that authority that has elected him. A judge may not be arrested except while committing a crime. Article 92. Legal assistance is recognized in all stages of court proceedings. The law regulates the structure, ways of legal profession, and other types of legal assistance. Chapter Nine. The Procurator’s Office [subhead] Article 93. The procurator general and procurators who are subordinate to him ensure the thorough control and observance of laws within the framework of their authority in the territory of Tajikistan. Article 94. The procurator general heads a single central- ized system of the Procurator’s Office of Tajikistan. The procurator general is responsible to the Supreme Assembly and the president. Article 95. The procurator general of Tajikistan is elected for a five-year term. The procurator general appoints and removes from office those procurators who are subordinate to him. The term of authority of procurators is five years. The law regulates the activity, authority, and structure of the Procurator’s Office. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 72 CENTRAL ASIA Article 96. The procurator general and procurators who are subordinate to him function independently without interference from state bodies and officials; they are only subordinate to law. Article 97. The procurator may not perform other duties, be a member of political parties and organizations, or engage in entrepreneurship except scientific, teaching, and creative work. Chapter Ten. Procedure for Introducing Amendments to the Constitution Article 98. Amendments and addenda to the constitu- tion take place by means of a referendum. A referendum takes place with the support of two-thirds of the people’s deputies. The procedure for a referendum is determined by law. Article 99. The president or at least one-third of people’s deputies of Tajikistan submit addenda and amendments to the constitution. Proposals related to addenda and amendments to the constitution are published in the press three rnonths before the referendum. Article 100. The form of public administration; the territorial integrity; and the democratic, law-governed, and secular nature of the state are irrevocable. Turkmenistan Russian Ambassador on Turkmen-Russian Citizenship LD1712133394 Ashgabat VECHERNIY ASHGABAT in Russian 12 Dec 94 p 2 [Unattributed article: ‘Dual Citizenship: Not Too Long To Wait”} {[FBIS Translated Excerpt] Vadim Caerepov, Russian ambassador in Turkmenistan, answers a VECHERNIY ASHGABAT correspondent’s questions. [Correspondent] Mr. Ambassador, the Russian parlia- ment has ratified an agreement between the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan on the regulation of issues of dual citizenship, as well as the agreement on adjusting the process of migration and protecting the rights of migrants. The Turkmen assembly ratified it as long ago as last year. When will the documents start operating? {[Cherepov] The two documents you have mentioned guarantee adequate conditions for those people who have decided to leave for Russia or to return to Turk- menistan. And what is more this guarantees an entire number of rights and possibilities for those Russians who choose to stay, such as provision of education to children in Russia not as foreigners but as Russian citizens; provision of the Russian healthcare system; and so on. The documents contain many important things for those people who live in the republic and remain law-abiding FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 citizens of Turkmenistan. All this gives them the oppor- tunity not to lose the links with their historical mother- land. The agreements have been ratified by both cham- bers of the Russian parliament—the State Duma and Federation Council. These agreements will take effect when the Russian president approves parliament's deci- sion and when the exchange of the instruments of ratification takes place. By the way, this has been men- tioned in the agreements. I think this is not far off and by the end of this year both agreements will come into force. [Correspondent] Has the procedure for granting dual citizenship and migration been worked out? [Cherepov] It has been planned but some details still need to be clarified—where to sign, to seal it, and so on. The fact is that both in Turkmenistan and Russia Soviet passports are still in use and we have the right to enter various remarks in them. Today theoretically both states are ready to introduce their own national passports, and dual citizenship will be officially registered as in Europe, where someone holds two passports. But as there are no passports, we will work according to the presently accepted form. [Correspondent] Can all the citizens of Turkmenistan as well as of Russia obtain dual citizenship? [Cherepov] That would be an extreme situation. | per- sonally consider that this must not happen because this would undermine the idea of dual citizenship itself. [Correspondent] According to different estimates, 5,000- 15,000 residents of Turkmenistan have stamps in their passports showing that they are citizens of Russia. What is this? Is this instead of dual citizenship, establishing Russian citizenship or something else? [Cherepov] Over the first seven months this year 4,000 people underwent such registration, and every subse- quent month a further 3,000. All these people are Rus- sians who were here when Turkmenistan gained inde- pendence. This practice of granting Russian citizenship came into force after the adoption of the !aw on citizenship of the Russian Federation and was planned for a three-year period, which will be completed on 6 February 1995. Citizens of CIS countries have the opportunity to deter- mine their citizenship by simplified registration during this period. After 6 February they will have to be naturalized as Russian citizens in the usual manner, which was elaborated long ago and is a rather long procedure, it must be said. [passage omitted] [Correspondent] Is the mass outflow of the Russian language speaking population possible in your opinion? [Cherepov] I hope this will not happen as it has not happened before. The number of people leaving today cannot be compared with the outflow from the other republics of the C'S. [passage omitted] | This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 Cotton Delivered to Pakistan Via Afghanistan LD1712131194 Ashgabat TURKMENSKAYA ISKRA in Russian 10 Dec 94 pl [Unattributed article: “First Consignment of Turkmen Cotton Sent From Ashgabat to Pakistan Along ‘Peace Road} {[FBIS Translated Text] The first consignment of Turkmen cotton has been sent from Ashgabat to Paki- stan along the “Peace Road’”—the vehicle corridor through west Afghanistan that has been revived after many years of oblivion. The cargo was taken by trucks, which recently opened up the new trade route Islama- bad-Kandahar-Towraghondi-Ashgabat. They delivered humanitarian cargo for Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The return trip is supposed to prove the viability of the only peaceful route through Afghanistan. “This is the shortest route from the CIS countries to the Arabian Sea,” said Abbas Huseyn, chairman of the Pakistan state corporation for exporting and importing cotton, toa Turkmen Press correspondent. “‘And the fact that this route has begun serving Turkmen-Pakistan cooperation is natural. For the heads of the two fraternal states were the initiators of its opening. The first 50 of 15,000 tonnes of cotton bought in Turkmenistan have been sent to Islamabad. Under the terms of the contract 50 percent of the cost will be paid by Pakistan in hard currency, the second half will be used for purchasing goods in Pakistan. “The cotton yield was not high this year in Pakistan. That is why, at the beginning of the 1995, we are going to buy a further 30,000 tonnes of raw cotton for the needs of the textile industry of our country. The cotton’s quality, as well as its price, meets world standards. We are alse interested in the possibility of using the experi- ence of Turkmen cotton seed-growing in our country.” Apart from the cotton deliveries, Turkmen-Pakistan cooperation includes the setting up of a joint enter- prise—a cotton processing plant. Moreover, the equip- ment for it will also be delivered to Turkmenistan along the “Peace Road.” Uzbekistan World Bank Regional Director Pledges Financial Aid LD1612191294 Moscow INTERFAX in English 1625 GMT 16 Dec 94 [From the “Presidential Bulletin” feature; compiled by Nikolay Zherebtsov, Andrey Petrovskiy, and edited by Viadimir Shishlin} CENTRAL ASIA 73 [FBIS Transcribed Text] President Islam Karimov has received in Tashkent the visiting Director of World Bank’s Russia and Central Asia Department Yucon Khuang. Khuang told the president about the Bank’s prepared- ness to render aid to Uzbekistan by financing concrete projects and strengthening national currency. He spoke highly about the pace of the economic reforms in Uzbekistan. According to the World Bank, the republic managed to avoid sharp reduction in the production volume and profits. While the average index of the production volume fall in the CIS countries constitutes 40.9 percent, the reduction of production in 1990-1993 stood at 14.4 percent. As to the World Bank’s contribu- tion in the republic’s economy, in 1995 the Bank may offer the $150-180 million-worth credit for sustaining the reform program. At the same time the Bank will consider offering of $400-500 million for financing six or seven investment projects. Special attention is being given to the development of power engineering, agriculture, the social sector and the oil and gas industry. Already four oil and gas projects are to be financed soon. Among them is the development of the Kokdumalak oil and gas deposit in the Bukhara Region, which is expected to ensure Uzbekistan’s oil independence by 1996. Among other projects are the construction of Bukhara oil refinery to service the Kok- dumalak deposit, the reconstruction of the existing Fer- ghana oil refinery and infrastructure for the Shurta gas deposit. Karimov informed the guest about the progress of the economic reform at the current stage and said that it will be difficult to ensure its success without the Bank’s long-term help. Agreement on Tashkent-Brussels Air Link LD1612162194 Tashkent PRAVDA VOSTOKA in Russian 16 Dec 94 p 1 [FBIS Translated Text] A delegation from the Republic of Uzbekistan, led by Gani Rafikov, general manager of Uzbekistan Airways, paid a working visit to Brussels, the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium. During the visit, talks were held in the civil aviation administration of Belgium and Sabena airline, which is one of the largest in Europe. The sides discussed the prospects for and concrete areas of bilateral cooperation in the field of regular passenger and goods air transpor- tation. As a result of the talks, a draft intergovernmental con- tract on air links between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kingdom of Belgium was initialled and a pre- liminary agreement on opening an air route between the capitals of both states—with the prospect of extending it to Samarkand—was reached. The meeting in Sabena, where the practical aspects for cooperation between the two air lines were discussed with Sabena representatives, was fruitful. This report may contain copyrighted matezial. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. 74 CENTRAL ASIA The agreements reached have a special importance, as they will create new preconditions for expanding and extending bilateral cooperation with one of the indus- trially developed countries of Europe, which has a significant volume of trade and economic relations with our republic. The opening of regular air links between Tashkent and Brussels, where the leading bodies of the European Community, NATO, and FBIS-SOV-94-243 19 December 1994 other authoritative international organizations are located, is an important step too, and will promote the speedy integration of Uzbekistan into the inter- national community. The sides agreed to start implementing bilateral air deliveries in the near future before the official signing of the contract. This report may contain copyrighted material. Copying and dissemination is prohibited without permission of the copyright owners. pomp ae yn ange Bt gh Bway © cadet tapih, eaenninae. ay cbar Uldnintign ap cash dn eliaaie ead eabuand Gan nd an een es SUBSCRIPTION/PROCUREMENT INFORMATION provided The FBIS DAILY REPORT contains current news and information and is published Monday through Friday in eight volumes: China, East Europe, Central Eurasia, East Asia, Near East & South Asia, Sub- Saharan Africa, Latin America, and West Europe. pn ae ete eh at pe available periodically and will be distributed to regular DAILY REPORT subscribers. JPRS publications, which include approximately 50 regional, worldwide, and topical reports, generally contain less time-sensitive information and are published periodically. Current DAILY REPORTs and JPRS publications are listed in Government Reports Announcements issued by the National Technicai information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Veonie 22161 and the Mone Cots of US. 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