OSCE Chairmanship renews offer to help improve situation in Chechen Republic

SOFIA, 2 September 2004 - The OSCE's Bulgarian Chairmanship has again expressed its willingness to co-operate with the Russian Federation in improving the situation in the Chechen Republic.

Ambassador Ivan Naydenov, Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Solomon Passy, visited the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation from 28 to 30 August to familiarise himself with the situation on the ground during the presidential elections.

The visit took place at the invitation of the Acting President of the Chechen Republic, Sergey Abramov, and the Head of the Election Commission Abdul-Kerim Arsakhanov.

"We offer our assistance to the Chechen Republic," Ambassador Naydenov said. "The OSCE as a multilateral organization would be in a position to provide assistance, taking into account both the expectations of the Chechen people and Russian authorities and the comparative advantages of the OSCE."

Ambassador Naydenov discussed possible future co-operation regarding the Chechen Republic in a meeting with the first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Valery Loshchinin, in Moscow on 31 August.

During his visit to the Chechen Republic, the Personal Representative of the CiO met Prime Minister and Acting President Sergey Abramov, Head of the State Council Taus Dzhabrailov and President-elect Alu Alkhanov.

The Chairman-in-Office has asked OSCE Secretary General Jan Kubis and the Heads of OSCE Institutions to provide updated suggestions on possible OSCE activities with regard to the Chechen Republic.