Moscow talks focus on Chechen refugees

Tens of thousands have fled the conflict in Chechnya

By the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers arrives in Moscow on Tuesday for talks with senior Russian officials on the plight of Chechen refugees.

He will also visit a refugee camp in the Russian republic of Ingushetia.

His visit comes at a time when Moscow has announced a break in peace talks with the Chechen rebels.

It had seemed - for a moment - as if the Kremlin was pushing hard for peace in Chechnya.

Last year there were secret contacts between the Russian leadership and the rebels.

Prospect of peace recedes

There was even a meeting - albeit a brief one - between a senior Kremlin official and a representative of Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov.

Many are spending a third winter in makeshift camps

Now, though, Moscow says the talks are off. And it blames the rebels for refusing to surrender their arms.

As a result, the prospects for peace in the North Caucasus look as distant as ever.

Now a prominent Russian general has announced there are no plans to withdraw troops from Chechnya this year.

The fight aginst what Moscow desribes as terrorists and bandits will continue.

No end to human suffering

Meanwhile, casualties continue to mount on both sides.

As does evidence of human rights abuses committed by Russian troops against Chechen civilians.

And across the border in Ingushetia, tens of thousands of Chechen refugees are spending their third winter in makeshift camps. They are still too frightened to return home.