No dubts, everybody among us can join imediately the AI appeal. The problem however, is to join or not to join the INVS appeal. I agree that introductive part of this is fully demagogic and unacceptable. Moreover, it seems I agree also with position stated by Mamuka, that we can not appeal for negotiations "between Russia and Chechnya" (or between Eltsin and Dudaev, if you want). It is number 1. item in their appeal. In this case according to me there is no reason to send our letter to the INVS with expression of our support to the items 2. and 3. and decisive disagreement with introduction and item 1.

Probably, in this case it is matter to issue our own declaration or press release, stating what we want to state.

Probably, we can warry about bombardments of a Russian city, about victims among civilians, about restrictions of information for public opinion, more generally - about the miliarists' attitude to govern the situation not only in Chechnya, but in Russia at all. NONSOLOCECENIA, by one word.

I still am not sure for 100% that such kind of declaration just to "mark a position", without a concrete proposal or action (like Sergej Kovalev's the very good one; or like Marco's and Olivier's in Vukovar, of course, not in the same poplitical sense) is necessary.

It could be important if some of us (me, for example) could go there to join Sergej Kovalev - of course not to support Dudaev, but to "observe, what Russian militaries will make against Russian citizens there". It looks like extremely difficult, however, to reach that region now, 'cause it seems it is completely closed already. Anyway, we should take in consideration also this possibility and I would like to see here your opinions on it. It does not mean of course, that I would like to get an order to to Chechnya, or vice versa. But since we are working in a group, this kind of individual decision should be accompanied by party's readyness to cover expences connected with the voyage to Grozny and my stay there and solving "technical problems" of my absense in Moscow (as well as Kiev) office during an undefinited time.

Anyway, this is possible text of RP's declaration on Chechnya.

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The Transnational Radical Party expresses its deep worry about the events in Chechnya - a Russian break away republic.

In accordance with international law we completely consider its territory as a part of Russian Federation territory and constitutional right and duty of president of the country to undertake all legal measures to ensure the constitutional order and territorial intergrity of the country on the whole its territory.

We are deeply concerned, however by the ways of acchieving the legal aims undertaken by Russian armed forces, including air strikes against non-military targets in Grozny and other Russian cities and villages, causing the victims among civilians, attempts to ban the complete and objective informing Russian and international public opinion about the armed forces' actions in Chechnya and - more generally by the tendension of militarist forces in Russia to extend their influence in the whole country, using Chechn crysis as a pretext for much more essential changements in Russian political situation.

Therefore we urge government of Russian Federation and president Boris Eltsin:

- to stop immediately the air strikes against non-military targets in Grozny and other Russian sites in Northern Caucasus;

- to prevent any military actions which cause victims among civilians in the warfare zone;

- to ensure the complete fulfilling the international humanitarian and human rights law in the warfare zone;

- to provide the full and objective information for Russian and international public opinion by means of assitance to mass media and international observers working in the warfare zone."

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Nevertheless - I stress it again - I am sure that just such a release without any firther concrete action is useful... Let me know all your opinions, please.