BBC News Online: World: Europe

Chechnya overshadows security accords

Russian officials said there would be no withdrawal of forces from Chechnya and ruled out a mediation role for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe - an apparent concession by Moscow on Thursday.

"The task remains unchanged - to destroy the militants," said Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo.

"We don't need any mediation," Mr Rushailo told reporters in Moscow, when asked about a possible OSCE role.

The two accords signed on Friday - after a day's delay caused by disputes with Russia over Chechnya - were:

• a Charter for European Security, which establishes the principle that conflicts in one state are the legitimate concern of all
• An updated version of the 1990 Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty, which sets lower ceilings for key armaments and troops stationed in militarily sensitive border regions.

A declaration on Chechnya adopted at the end of a summit of the OSCE summit stated: "We agree that a political solution is essential and that the assistance of the OSCE would contribute to achieving that goal...We welcome the agreement of the Russian Federation to a visit by the (OSCE) Chairman in Office to the region."

The head of the United Nations refugee agency, Sadako Ogata, said in Moscow on Friday, after visiting refugee camps on the Chechen border, that the situation there was not castastrophic.

However, she told the Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, of her serious concern about the number of civilian casualties.

No timetable for negotiations

But no timetable has been agreed for any political talks and Moscow continued 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.

Interfax news agency said Russian warplanes had carried out about 60 air strikes during the past 24 hours.

Click here to see a map of the region

Correspondents point out that the promised invitation to the Norwegian chairman of the OSCE, Knut Vollebaek, to visit the region does not guarantee he will be allowed to enter Chechnya itself - a constant demand of the west.

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 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.

Click here to return

Relevant Stories

UN chief: No Chechen 'catastrophe' (19 Nov 99 | Europe)
Russia's media war over Chechnya (19 Nov 99 | Monitoring)
Analysis: East-West relations must shift (19 Nov 99 | Europe)
Russian press split over 'haughty' West (19 Nov 99 | Monitoring)
New arms control treaty for Europe (19 Nov 99 | Europe)
Chechen town falls without a fight (19 Nov 99 | Europe)
Yeltsin walks out on world leaders (18 Nov 99 | Europe)
UN envoy inspects Chechen camps (18 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