#6157
[Second Issue of the Day]
#8
BBC Monitoring
Former Russian premier moots peace settlement for Chechnya
Source: Ekho Moskvy radio, Moscow, in Russian 0700 gmt 26 Mar 02
Former Prime Minister Yevgeniy Primakov has said that Moscow sees a need to hold talks with Chechen separatists. Primakov said that the federal government had to deliver a fresh ultimatum to the separatists for them to cease contacts with international terrorists. A similar ultimatum was given by Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2001.
Primakov made his remarks to Russian Ekho Moskvy radio in an interview on 25 March. In the interview, part of which was broadcast 26 March, he said:
"Sooner or later - along with the putting down of bandit groups and the suppression of terrorist units by our military - we will have to proceed toward talks. During these talks Chechnya's status within Russia might well be discussed.
We can draw on existing examples: we have national republics which possess rather extensive rights and authority. For instance, there is Tatarstan - this is a very good example as both the federal interests and the interests of the territory inhabited by the titular [Tatar] population are taken into consideration.
If you are talking about Russia - it also has had such examples. Finland once was a part of Russia with a special status."
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