OSCE Chairman-in-Office welcomes ceasefire in Chechnya

BUDAPEST, 17 February 1995 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Hungarian Foreign Minister László Kovács, issued the following statement today:

The Chairman-in-Office welcomes and supports the cease-fire negotiated for humanitarian purposes in Chechnya. The cease-fire is an important step which is in compliance with the decision of the Permanent Council of the OSCE of 3 February 1995. The intention of the parties to consolidate and extend the cease-fire so as to make it comprehensive is of special significance. The Chairman-in-Office expresses the hope that the parties will proceed accordingly and without delay towards the conclusion of a cease-fire involving both small arms and heavy weapons, so that the lives of innocent civilians can be spared.

The Chairman-in-Office emphasizes that the present cease-fire creates favorable conditions for the peaceful settlement of the crisis, for building democracy and civil society. He urges the Russian Federation to continue the full implementation of the decision of the Permanent Council of the OSCE. Constructive co-operation with the Russian Federation in the framework of the OSCE remains the solid basis for further OSCE contribution to bring about a lasting overall solution. The Chairman-in-Office expresses hope that the OSCE Human Rights Assistance Group which is about to travel to the Russian Federation, including the region of the Chechen crisis, will be able to discuss further possibilities of co-operation and the OSCE contribution to the settlement of the crisis.-------------Hungarian Foreign Minister László Kovács became OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO) on December 5, 1995. The CiO is vested with overall responsibility for OSCE executive action. The term of Chairmanship generally lasts one year.