5. Juni 2005

Chinaview
Xinhuanet



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Xinhuanet: Kadyrov and Dzhabrailov demand apology from CofE
official Chechen leaders demand apology from Council of Europe official

MOSCOW, June 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Leaders of the Chechen government in Russia refuted on Saturday the criticism by a senior Council of Europe official on the status quo in the republic and demanded his apology, the Interfax news agency reported.

During an interview with a Swiss newspaper, Andreas Gross, who co-heads the Political Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, «slung mud at Chechen reality, distorted the situation in Chechnya and the policy of the Russian leadership to achieve stability in the republic,» Chechen State Council Chairman Taus Dzhabrailov said. Dzhabrailov said he cannot understand what information Gross based his conclusions on. Gross reportedly said the Russian federal government is not in control of the situation in Chechnya, and that many people support rebel leader Shamil Basayev and many others do not care what is happening in Chechnya.

Chechen First Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov said, «Gross is apparently unhappy with the fact that the illegal armed groups in the North Caucasus region have been defeated.» The Russian federal forces and Chechen Interior Ministry units have broken the backbone of international terrorism in Chechnya, killed rebel leaders who were keeping the entire civilized community in terror and cut off their principal channels of financing, Kadyrov said. «Gross dislikes that for some reason,» he added.

«In my view, it would be appropriate if Gross thinks over his statements, makes a sober-minded assessment and offers his apologies for insults inflicted on practically the entire population of Chechnya,» Kadyrov said.

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