BBC News Online: World: Europe

Russian concession on Chechnya

The official signing had been thrown into doubt when Russia's President Boris Yeltsin insisted there would be no outside interference in Chechnya.

But after a series of delicate negotiations, Moscow has agreed to give international organisations a political and humanitarian role in the Chechen conflict.

But no timetable has been agreed for any political talks and Moscow continues to describe the government of the breakaway republic as bandits and terrorists.

Even as the negotiations were taking place Russian troops were continuing to pound the Chechen capital, Grozny.

New CFE treaty

On Friday, a landmark security agreement was signed limiting conventional forces in Europe.

The updated version of the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty sets lower ceilings for key armaments and troops stationed in militarily sensitive border regions.

The new Charter for European Security, which includes the references to Chechnya is to be signed later in the day.

The ceremonial signing of the charter had been postponed because of the differences over Chechnya.

Russia had wanted no mention of Chechnya, which it regards as an internal matter, in the declaration.

German Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Michaelis said the final declaration, to be issued on Friday, would say a political solution to the Chechen problem was essential.

And Russia will express its readiness to invite the Norwegian chairman of the OSCE, Knut Vollebaek, to seek ways of ending the conflict.

No timetable for talks

But correspondents point out that the promised invitation does not guarantee he will be allowed to enter Chechnya itself - a constant demand of the west.

Nor is there any timetable for the start of political talks.

The BBC's Rob Watson, reporting from the summit, said although the gap between Russia and the West over Chechnya remained wide, there was no sign of a breakdown in relations.

In a separate development, Moscow has also granted the United Nations refugee agency access to refugees who have fled the fighting.

Chechen town surrenders

Russian troops have continued their push into the breakaway republic of Chechnya, taking another key town without a shot being fired.

Achkhoi-Martan, near the border with Ingushetia, was the second major Chechen town to surrender.

Last week, federal forces entered Chechnya's second city, Gudermes, without opposition.

Local officials were told they would be spared bombing and shelling if they ensured no guerrillas were hiding in the town.

Residents gave up a varied array of weaponry including machine guns and grenade launchers.

Russian troops had surrounded Achkhoi-Martan for days as they pressed towards the Chechen heartland that lies south of the capital, Grozny.

Meanwhile, French news agency AFP reported that some 170 people died in Russian missile strikes on Thursday.

Chechen officials told AFP that 70 died in air strikes on Grozny and another 100 died when five rockets struck Urus-Martan, 20km (12 miles) from the rebel capital.

The death toll could not be independently verified.

Relevant Stories

Chechen town falls without a fight (19 Nov 99 | Europe)
Yeltsin walks out on world leaders (18 Nov 99 | Europe)
Full text of Boris Yeltsin's speech (18 Nov 99 | Monitoring)
UN envoy inspects Chechen camps (18 Nov 99 | Europe)
Tricky task at Istanbul summit (18 Nov 99 | Europe)
Yeltsin warns critics over Chechnya (17 Nov 99 | Europe)
Analysis: Russia suspicious of OSCE motives (17 Nov 99 | Europe)
Analysis: West worries over Chechnya (16 Nov 99 | Europe)
Analysis: Danger of stalemate in Chechnya (15 Nov 99 | Europe)

Internet Links

OSCE Istanbul Summit

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

In this section

Violence greets Clinton visit
Russian forces pound Grozny
EU fraud: a billion dollar bill
Next steps for peace
Cardinal may face loan-shark charges
Vodafone takeover battle heats up (From Business)
Trans-Turkish pipeline deal signed
French party seeks new leader
Jube tube debut
Athens riots for Clinton visit
UN envoy discusses Chechnya in Moscow
Solana new Western European Union chief
Moldova's PM-designate withdraws
Chechen government welcomes summit
In pictures: Clinton's violent welcome
Georgia protests over Russian 'attack'
UN chief: No Chechen 'catastrophe'
New arms control treaty for Europe
Mannesmann fights back (From Business)
EU fraud -- a billion-dollar bill
New moves in Spain's terror scandal
EU allows labelling of British beef
UN seeks more security in Chechnya
Athens riots for Clinton visit
Russia's media war over Chechnya
Homeless suffer as quake toll rises
Analysis: East-West relations must shift