DATE=12/26/94

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-171402

TITLE=RUSSIA/CHECHNYA (S-UPDATE)

BYLINE=ELIZABETH ARROTT

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SAYS THE FIRST STAGE OF

MOSCOW'S INTERVENTION IN CHECHNYA IS ALMOST COMPLETE, AND HE VOWS

TO PRESS AHEAD TO REIGN IN THE BREAKAWAY REGION. VOA'S ELIZABETH

ARROTT IN MOSCOW HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: MR. YELSTIN SAYS THE MILITARY PHASE OF THE CAMPAIGN TO

RECLAIM CHECHNYA IS NEARING AN END, AND RUSSIA IS READY TO BEGIN

ASSERTING ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OF THE REGION.

THE PRESIDENT, SPEAKING BEFORE JOURNALISTS AT A MEETING OF HIS

SECURITY COUNCIL, STRESSED MOSCOW WILL REIGN IN THE BREAKAWAY

REGION. IT IS OUR REPUBLIC, HE SAID, AND TROOPS WILL BE THERE

PERMANENTLY.

MR. YELTSIN'S ASSESMENT OF RUSSIAN SUCCESS IS AT ODDS WITH

REPORTS FROM CHECHNYA, WHERE RUSSIAN TROOPS HAVE BECOME BOGGED

DOWN IN THE GROUND WAR TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INVASION BEGAN.

JOURNALISTS ON THE SCENE SAY MORALE AMONG RUSSIAN FORCES APPEARS

LOW, WHILE CHECHEN DEFIANCE REMAINS HIGH.

ACCORDING TO THE INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY, THE SECURITY COUNCIL

AGREED MOSCOW SHOULD TRY TO HOLD TALKS WITH LEADERS OF CHECHEN

FORCES. IT WAS NOT CLEAR IF THAT MEANT CHECHEN PRESIDENT

DZHOKAR DUDAYEV, OR PEOPLE AT A LOWER LEVEL.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING WAS HELD AMID REPORTS OF FURTHER

DISARRAY IN THE RUSSIAN MILITARY. A TOP LAWMAKER SAYS THREE

DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTERS HAVE BEEN FIRED. MR. YELTSIN'S PRESS

OFFICE DECLINED COMMENT. THE RUSSIAN LEADER SAYS HE WILL MAKE A

NATIONALLY TELEVISED ADDRESS TUESDAY TO DISCUSS THE CHECHEN

SITUATION. (SIGNED)

NEB/EA/CF

26-Dec-94 12:22 PM EST (1722 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America