OSCE voices concern on increasing tension in Chechnya

VIENNA, 11 October 1995 - The OSCE Permanent Council, the 52-country decision-making body of the OSCE, issued a decision today reacting with serious concern to the increasing tension in Grosny and other parts of Chechnya.

The decision came after an emergency meeting of the Permanent Council on Monday in Vienna. The Chairman of the Council called the meeting to allow the OSCE to decide on its position to recent events in Chechnya including the 6 October terrorist attack against General Anatoly Romanov, commander of the Russian forces in Chechnya. General Romanov was critically injured in the attack, while three servicemen died and fifteen other people were injured. The meeting also discussed the impaired conditions of the OSCE Assistance Group in Grozny, in particular, due to the 7 October rocket attack which damaged the roof and shattered windows of the OSCE building in Grozny.

The OSCE decision condemns both of these attacks as well as attempts to intimidate OSCE Assistance Group members.

The decision "calls upon all political forces in the Chechen Republic to exercise the utmost restraint and expresses its hope that the Russian Federal authorities will take necessary steps for the continuation of the political process aimed at a peaceful and democratic solution of the crisis."

The decision continues by emphasizing that the "continued co-operation of the central authorities, local officials and military commanders, as well as all political forces in the Chechen Republic is a measure of their will to restore stability and democracy in the region through peaceful means."

The OSCE participating States call upon all parties "to ensure free and safe movement of the Assistance Group's members throughout the Chechen Republic, as a key condition for the fulfillment of the Group's mandate."

The decision also "reaffirms the readiness of the OSCE to provide assistance to a peaceful settlement of the crisis on the basis of OSCE principles, while respecting the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and its Constitution."

The Chairman of the Permanent Council, Ambassador Márton Krasznai, issued a statement on Monday, which outlines his recommendations to the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Hungarian Foreign Minister Lászlo Kóvacs, "in view of recent events in Groszny that put into jeopardy the personal safety of the staff of the OSCE Assistance Group and in light of the discussions in the Permanent Council."

His recommendations included a temporary reduction, until further notice, of the staff of the Assistance Group in Grozny and the sending of a personal representative of the Chairman-in-Office to Moscow and Grozny to assist in defusing the present tense situation and facilitate the continuation of the political process aimed at a peaceful solution of the crisis."

The OSCE will continue its focus on the situation in Chechnya on Thursday at the meeting of the Permanent Council. Assistance Group member Olivier Pelen will be in Vienna to report in detail to the participating States on the situation in Chechnya.