[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 8 (Friday, January 13, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     THE OSCE STATEMENT ON CHECHNYA

  (Mr. SMITH of New Jersey asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, the Permanent Council of the 
OSCE has adopted a statement on Chechnya which emphasizes the 
seriousness of the violation of human rights and international 
humanitarian law that has characterized the Russian military action in 
Chechnya.
  Affirming that respect for OSCE commitments is a legitimate concern 
of all signatory states, the OSCE has called for an immediate ceasefire 
and the beginning of negotiations for a political settlement, while 
respecting the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation.
  Mr. Speaker, the OSCE had welcomed Russia's stated willingness to 
cooperate with the OSCE in stabilizing the region and restoring 
constitutional order and in the early dispatch of an OSCE mission to 
that country. However, it now appears that the Russians may permit an 
OSCE peace mission only after the offensive has ceased. That is totally 
unacceptable.
  Mr. Speaker, any delay means more carnage, more dead civilians, more 
dead soldiers. The OSCE mission must be allowed immediate access to 
Chechnya, and this must be done with dispatch.
  Mr. Speaker, for many days the administration has called this 
aggression an internal affair. Thankfully there has been a shift in the 
administration's position.
  Next week as chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I plan to hold a 
hearing on this important matter, and hopefully we will see some 
progress then and now.


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