"Izvestia", N 242 (25834), 26.12.2000, p.1

BORIS NEMTSOV: CURRENT POLICIES IN CHECHNYA ENGENDER RESISTANCE

by Svetlana BABAYEVA

Last weekend in Magas, in the parliament of Ingushetia, five deputies to the State Duma headed by the leader of the faction "Union of the Right Forces" (URF) Boris Nemtsov carried out the negotiations with the deputies of the "Chechen parliament" elected in 1997. The negotiations were organized through the mediation of the president of Ingushetia Ruslan Aushev. The Chechens were represented by the "ministry for education" Khozh-Akhmed Yarikhanov who for a long time had belonged to Dudayev's inner circle. The participation of Yarikhanov in the negotiations has been his first public appearance since the beginning of the second Chechen campaign. Boris NEMTSOV tells in his exclusive interview to the "Izvestia" about these negotiations.

- Whose has been the initiative of the negotiations?

- Several months ago we discussed this idea with the deputies Kovalyov, Krasheninnikov, Aslakhanov, Morozov. We proceeded from the fact that there wasn't a military solution in Chechnya, it was necessary to find political ways. For a year and half of the operation in Chechnya there was nothing similar to the meeting we carried out this weekend. Today in Chechnya there is only one legitimate body of power with which is possible to carry out the negotiations - the parliament of 1997. For all that the final word will be president's. But it is to be recognized that the operation in Chechnya has stuck. Who did attack Dagestan last year? Basayev and Khattab. They still have their freedom. One thing is when the troops are given military tasks, and the other - police ones: to guard block-posts. A discontent is arousing among the federals. Many of them haven't got their salary since August. They said to us: "You will celebrate the New Year in Moscow, and we like boneheads will drink methylated spirits here"...

- Formally the aim of your arrival was to bring the humanitarian aid to the refugees.

- We have been to two camps. I've seen many things but that... Thousands of ragged children in the camp school write a letter to Putin: "We want peace". It is 10 below zero outside. A total despair. Mostly international organizations work there - Danish aid service, Red Cross, Salvation Army. We haven't even a program for aid to the refugees.

- What are the results of the negotiations?

- We have drawn a report consisting of five points. Here are the extracts: "it is necessary to establish a political dialogue", "representatives of the president, parliament and government must take part in the negotiations", "the objectives must be establishment of peace, rehabilitation of the economy and infrastructure, rendering aid to the refugees, concerted fight against the terrorism, gangsterism and extremism".

The last phrase has been included into the report on the request of the Chechen part. The report contains the appeal to the president with the request to render assistance in the search of the head of the parliament Ruslan Alikhadzhiyev. The Chechens suppose that he is held in one of the Russian isolation wards.

- What status have had these negotiations?

- It has been our own initiative. I emphasize: it hasn't been a parliamentary delegation.

- Do you think that the negotiations can lead to some results?

- One shouldn't be hypocrite. The fact that Kadyrov has been appointed the head of the temporary administration doesn't mean that the people like him more. He is regarded not as a representative of Chechnya but as a representative of the Kremlin. Women, old people say that their president is Maskhadov. In this situation it would be more honest to appoint a general-governor, for instance, general Troshev. And this person should control all the structures - military and financial ones. Today there are dozens of leaders there, so apparatus and administrative failures happen constantly. Besides that, it is necessary to prepare for the transition stage. The terms of office of the president and the parliament of Chechnya are expiring. It means that there won't be left any legitimate body of power at all.

- Who has taken part in the negotiations on the Chechen part?

- There has been Khozh-Akhmed Yarikhanov whom I have known for a long time, he is an influential man of absolutely moderate views. The delegation from the Chechen part has been very influential, but I can't tell you the names of the parliamentaries. They are afraid of persecutions. In total there have been seven persons, the negotiations have lasted four hours.

- Are you going to inform Putin about the results of the negotiations?

- Today I'll inform the president. I think, my duty is to tell him the following: current policies in Chechnya simply engender the resistance. For instance, after the students were killed, several villages have become partizans. But my position is unprejudiced and quite etatist: I don't want that the hostages be taken, I don't want that the Shariath courts function in Chechnya, that the republic separate. For all that I understand that the president won't do anything publicly, but I think it would be right if he undertook some actions. After all it isn't obligatory to carry out the negotiations with Maskhadov - there are other representatives.

- Are you sure that the president will want to talk about it at all?

- The president made a mistake, though he will hardly recognize it some day: he killed off old people and children. The people doesn't know it and thinks that in Chechnya the anti-terrorist operation is been carried out. But sooner or later they will know. And then the people's love for the president which he appreciates so much will be over.