"Commersant" N 242, Tuesday, December 26, 2000, p.2

JOINT COMMUNIQUE OF THE MEETING:

We, deputies to the State Duma of the Russian Federation Aslanbek Aslakhanov, Boris Nemtsov, Pavel Krasheninnikov and Sergey Kovalyov on our own initiative have met with a group of the deputies to the Parliament of the Chechen Republic Ichkeria. Having given careful consideration to the situation the participants of the meeting agreed that:

1. There doesn't exist a military solution of the Chechen problem. Therefore, it is necessary without delay to start seeking a political decision, and in order to do so to begin a political dialogue.

2. From the Chechen part, representatives of the president, parliament and government of the Chechen Republic Ichkeria must take part in the negotiations.

3. The objective of the negotiations in the first hand are:

- establishment of peace in the Chechen Republic, guarantees of safety for its residents;

- rehabilitation of economy, social infrastructure, rule of law and order on the territory of the Chechen Republic;

- delivering assistance to the refugees and forming conditions for their return to the places of permanent residence;

- concerted fight against the terrorism, gangsterism and religious extremism;

- search for the disappeared persons, liberation of the persons detained by force.

4. The participants of the meeting address to the President of the Russian Federation the request to provide the information about the destiny of the chairman of the Parliament of the Chechen Republic Ichkeria Ruslan Alikhadzhiyev.

5. The participants of the meeting intend to continue meetings and contacts in the future.