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From	Andrew.Bacelis@directory.reed.edu (Andrew Bacelis)
Date	21 Dec 1999 14:26:34 PST
Subject	globe_l: Chechnya

--- Forwarded Message from Claypat@aol.com ---

Dear Friends,

This statement was prepared by WILPF International. It has been sent to the
Russian Government,and copied to the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe, Mr. Kofi Annan,UN secretary general,the Security
Council and the European governments.

WILPF International

_______________

RE: Chechnya


The Women=B4s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), founded in
1915 in protest of the killing and destruction caused by the war raging in
Europe, remains the only international women's organization with the sole
aim of achieving world peace, freedom, economic and social justice, respect
for fundamental human rights, and disarmament. WILPF has sections in more
than forty countries representing all continents. For more than 84 years
WILPF members have been working for the prevention of war, and for the
political solutions to all conflicts. WILPF has consultative status with
the United Nations and with several of its Specialized Agencies.

We recall with deep sadness the devastating two-year war in Chechnya
(1994-96), when more than 100,000 Chechens and an unknown number of Russian
soldiers were killed, and the territory's infrastructure destroyed.

We are horrified by the Russian government's new, all-out military actions
on the ground and from the air against the Chechen population, killing
innocent people, destroying homes and causing more than 200,000 refugees as
they flee from the bombardments.

The war against the Chechen people, including the arbitrary arrests of
Chechens in Russia proper will not resolve the conflict and will only
further destabilize the entire Caucasus region.

We are encouraged by the governments' agreement to allow an OSCE delegation
to visit the area and urge the Russian government to use the good offices
of the OSCE in helping to resolve the conflict.

We therefore urgently appeal to the Russian Government to

- cease forthwith all military actions in Chechnya and enter into
meaningful talks with representatives of the Chechen people, including
women, to seek a political solution to the conflict, if necessary involving
the OSCE as a mediator in resolving differences;

- to provide urgent assistance to the refugees;

- to urgently begin the process of reconstruction and stabilization of
peace based on respect for human rights and justice.


Sincerely,


Bruna Nota
International President



Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
International Secretariat
1, rue de Varembe
C.P. 28
1211 Geneva 20
Tel: +41 22 733 61 75
Fax: +41 22 740 10 63
http//www.wilpf.int.ch


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