DATE=12/23/94

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-171339

TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (S ONLY)

BYLINE=VICTOR BEATTIE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT REPORTS OF

MOUNTING CIVILIAN CASUALTIES DURING THE RUSSIAN ARMY'S OPERATION

IN THE BREAKAWAY CHECHEN REPUBLIC. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE

REPORTS THE U-S CONCERN FOLLOWS CHARGES BY RUSSIA'S HUMAN RIGHTS

COMMISSIONER OF GROSS VIOLATIONS BY RUSSIAN TROOPS:

TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN DAVID JOHNSON (FRIDAY) SAYS

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE FOLLOWING UP THE ALLEGATIONS

WITH THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. HE SAYS WASHINGTON IS WATCHING

DEVELOPMENTS CLOSELY.

MR. JOHNSON NOTED RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN'S PLEDGE HIS

TROOPS WOULD ONLY FIRE ON ARMED OPPOSITION. HE ALSO NOTED

RUSSIA'S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER SERGEI KOVALOV'S ALLEGATIONS

OF GROSS VIOLATIONS BY RUSSIAN TROOPS IN CHECHNYA.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HAS

BEEN -- AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE -- A BASIC PRECEPT OF U-S POLICY

TOWARDS RUSSIA.

LAST WEEK -- SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER CALLED FOR

RUSSIAN RESTRAINT. BUT, HE STRESSED THE UNITED STATES DID NOT

WANT TO SEE A NUCLEAR-ARMED RUSSIA FRAGMENTED. HE ALSO NOTED THE

MOVE TO END CHECHNYA'S THREE-YEAR SEPARATIST MOVEMENT WAS AN

INTERNAL MATTER.

THE LATEST U-S STATEMENT STOPPED SHORT OF CRITICIZING RUSSIA'S

MILITARY ACTION AGAINST CHECHNYA. ONE STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL

SAYS THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES IN RUSSIA FROM THE CHECHNYA

OPERATION COULD CREATE INSTABILITY BY UNDERCUTTING THE YELTSIN

GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

23-Dec-94 11:17 PM EST (0417 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America