[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 103 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H7511-H7516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TRAGEDY IN CHECHNYA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Wolf] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's headline was ``Russia pounds 
Chechens as election truce unravels.'' Today's headline tells us the 
``Chechen war escalates once more.'' Report after report details a 
growing number of casualties. Many people, both military and civilian, 
are being killed each day. No one seems to know exactly how many but 
the total is growing. So is the number of refugees trying to stay one 
step ahead of the fighting and destruction; moving like the tide, first 
here, then there. Fleeing, leaving the fighting and danger behind only 
to reencounter it up ahead.
  The Russian military has taken off the gloves now that Boris Yeltsin 
has been safely reelected. With tough talking ex-General Alexander 
Lebed in his corner, President Yeltsin has unleashed an awesome array 
of brutal military might on tiny independent-minded Chechnya. The 
apparent goal is to crush the life out of any desire for independence, 
no matter what the price. The most recent down payment was the death of 
Russian Maj. Gen. Nikolai Skripnik and a number of other soldiers on 
one side and guerrilla fighters and innocent civilians on the other. 
The numbers grown each day now. And no one seems to have the will to 
stop this carnage.
  Certainly no one in our White House. This administration continues to 
sit on its hands regarding Chechnya. It has not spoken out to condemn 
the brutality and the havoc. The Clinton policy on Chechnya has been to 
remain silent. Deathly silent. Webster's defines genocide as ``the 
deliberate, systematic destruction of a group.'' Chechnya is a textbook 
example of genocide and we say nothing.
  This administration--this President--has walked away from human 
rights at every turn. China, for example, where President Clinton 
delinked human rights from MFN trading status. After resounding 
denouncements of President Bush's policy to elevate trade matters above 
concerns for human rights Bill Clinton advanced the identical notion to 
the point where there are no longer even discussions on human rights 
with the Chinese. National Security Adviser Anthony Lake just returned 
from a round of high level talks with China. The topic of human rights 
was conspicuous by its absence from the agenda.
  In Russia itself, anti-Semitism is cropping up more and more. Anti-
Jewish rhetoric, if not commonplace, is at least being voiced by some 
mainstream officials. Presidents Carter, Reagan, and Bush condemned 
anti-Semitism and antihuman rights policies to every turn. Today's 
White House remains silent--to offend no one and thereby offend us all.
  I visited Chechnya last year, met the people, Russian and Chechen, 
soldier and civilian, and saw first hand the results of this horror. I 
saw the burned out school of Shamanski. Heard about the grotesque and 
unspeakable acts drug-crazed soldiers committed on old men and women. 
Since returning, I have urged the President time and again to speak out 
against this war. I have asked him to offer to help by making available 
a high level person experienced and wise in diplomacy and negotiation 
to help both sides search for common ground. To search for a more 
humane way out. But this administration did nothing. This 
administration does nothing to advance human rights or to condemn the 
horrors taking place in Chechnya.
  Here are copies of my exchanges of ideas with the President; with the 
administration. I insert these in the Record at this time.
  My point in standing here is to advance the notion that America 
stands for something important. Like it or not we are the sole nation 
of sufficient stature, strength, and compassion which can, in the world 
court of public opinion, speak on the side of those with no voice. If 
we do not, they will not be heard. More will die and suffering will 
intensify.
  But we remain silent. Mr. Speaker, we call on the President to 
condemn Russian brutality in Chechnya. Condemn those who ignore the 
basic human rights of others. And urge Vice President Gore to carry 
this important word to his Russian counterparts during his visit there 
next week.


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, July 10, 1996.
     Hon. Albert Gore, Jr.,
     The Vice President, The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Vice President: As you prepare for your meeting 
     with Viktor Chernomyrdin this weekend in Moscow, I wanted to 
     share with you the correspondence between the administration 
     and myself on the brutal war in Chechnya. I also have 
     enclosed an op-ed by Georgie Anne Geyer from the Washington 
     Times with which I strongly agree.
       It is time for the administration to publicly denounce the 
     fighting in Chechnya and find a fair, honest mediator to help 
     work out the differences between the two sides. The Russian 
     people, the Chechens and, indeed, the world is waiting for a 
     public statement of condemnation from the United States. 
     While I believe it is way overdue, you now have the 
     opportunity, at this, your first post-election meeting with 
     your Russian counterpart, to make such a statement.
       Mr. Vice President, this is your opportunity to publicly 
     stand for human rights

[[Page H7512]]

     and peace in Chechnya. Please use the upcoming meeting to 
     publicly, forcefully and unabashedly condemn the fighting in 
     Russia and urge the Russian government to seek a peaceful 
     settlement.
       I also hope, now that the elections are over, that the 
     administration will take a fresh look at offering the use of 
     a tested and proven statesman to help resolve the conflict 
     between the two sides. It would be a sign that the U.S. has 
     advanced beyond a policy of watching the killing to actually 
     doing something about it.
       Thank you.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____



                                              The White House,

                                    Washington, DC, June 25, 1996.
     Hon. Frank Wolf,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Wolf: I am writing in response to your 
     letters regarding the appointment of a special American envoy 
     to facilitate peace in Chechnya.
       As I wrote to you previously, my Administration was 
     prepared to consider a special American envoy had either the 
     Russians or Chechens expressed an interest in such an 
     intermediary; neither side did. In April, the Russians 
     considered possible Russian mediators and expressed interest 
     in the good offices of King Hassan II of Morocco. I spoke to 
     the King about what role he might play.
       Appointment of an unsolicited American mediator under such 
     circumstances would have accomplished little for peace in 
     Chechnya. Indeed, it might well have hindered and undercut 
     the OSCE mission's efforts, which led to the May 27 meeting 
     in Moscow between President Yeltsin and Chechen rebel leader 
     Yandarbiyev. That meeting produced a cease-fire agreement and 
     restarted direct Russian-Chechen negotiations. While tenuous, 
     these negotiations appear to be making some progress toward 
     resolving the Chechen situation.
       I fully agree on the need to help bring peace to Chechnya. 
     My Administration has pursued various means to promote a 
     settlement in Chechnya and will continue to do so through 
     every available path that does not interfere with or 
     undermine a negotiating process that is ongoing.
       I appreciate your concern about this issue.
           Sincerely,
     Bill Clinton.
                                                                    ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, June 3, 1996.
     Hon. William J. Clinton,
     The President,
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: Enclosed is a piece on Chechnya from 
     today's Washington Times that I wanted you to see. With 
     Russia's elections less than two weeks away, it may be too 
     late to do anything about Chechnya. If it is not already 
     midnight, we are dangerously close.
       Mr. President, with all respect, I fear this country--your 
     administration--has squandered a wonderful opportunity to 
     cement tranquil relations with a Russia searching for peace 
     and economic development. Rather we risk the emergence of a 
     different Russia; a Russia not only disillusioned with 
     unfulfilled promises of a more democratic form of government 
     and a market based economy but now a Russia thoroughly 
     embarrassed and angered by the inability of its military to 
     quell the uprising of tiny Chechnya.
       There is a saying about the devil you know being better 
     than the devil you don't know. I sense the Russian people are 
     approaching this point and a return to communism is looking 
     better and better to them each day. Perhaps it is not too 
     late. Perhaps there is still time for you to offer the 
     services of an American statesman to help the warring parties 
     in the search for common ground. Perhaps there is time to end 
     the killing.
       I urge you to try. What more is there to lose in this 
     matter? At least let's get the bat off our shoulder and go 
     down swinging. Mr. President, I do not mean to be 
     disrespectful but this opportunity will not come again. 
     Please.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 23, 1996.
     Hon. William J. Clinton,
     The President,
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: Buried on page A-4 of this morning's 
     New York Times was the enclosed article reporting 160 more 
     killed in Chechnya. Dying there has, I suppose become so 
     commonplace as to barely be newsworthy. Won't you at least 
     consider appointing a special American envoy whose sole goal 
     is to bring these two warring parties to the negotiating 
     table to agree to stop shooting one another?
       One can try to do good and fail or one can fail to try to 
     do good. They are miles apart. I urge you, Mr. President, 
     make this effort. Thank you.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____


                160 Reportedly Killed in Chechnya Battle

       Moscow, May 22 (AP).--Up to 40 Russian troops and 120 
     separatists were killed today in a fierce battle near Bamut, 
     in western Chechnya, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.
       Up to 1,000 rebels have been defending the hills around he 
     village, which lies in ruin, against Russian artillery, tanks 
     and warplanes, a high-ranking Defense Ministry official said.
       The Russians suspect that a large rebel weapons cache is 
     hidden at Bamut, a former Soviet missile base 35 miles 
     southwest of Grozny, the capital.
       But Defense Minister Pavel S. Grachev still said today that 
     Moscow would reduce the number of regular army troops in 
     Chechnya as part of a peace plan offered recently by 
     President Boris N. Yeltsin.
       Speaking to army officers in Yekaterinburg, Mr. Grachev 
     said the withdrawals would be finished by Aug. 1, but he did 
     not say how many units would be pulled out. He has announced 
     withdrawals before that turned out to be only troop 
     rotations.
       Tens of thousands of soldiers from the Interior Ministry 
     and the regular Russian Army have been in Chechnya since 
     December 1994 trying to defeat the outmanned separatists.
                                                                    ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                      Washington, DC, May 7, 1996.
     Hon. William J. Clinton,
     The President,
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: I am, once again, writing to point out 
     that conditions for the men, women and children in Chechnya 
     continue to deteriorate as hopelessness and hatred battle one 
     another. Did you see the enclosed Washington Times piece 
     reporting the views of Duma Member, Mr. Aoushev, who is also 
     the deputy chairman of their parliament's national security 
     committee? He makes several thoughtful points which should 
     give us pause about a ``see nothing--do nothing'' policy.
       He notes:
       . . . military action could spread from Chechnya to next 
     door neighbor Ingushetia. Not only would this bring senseless 
     killing, destruction, and misery to a new region that is, 
     today, relatively tranquil, it would deny an existing haven 
     to many Chechens who have fled from the daily terrors of 
     their homeland. When I recently visited that region, I went 
     to an Ingushetian refugee camp for Chechens, mostly women, 
     children and the aged. They do not need another turn in a war 
     zone.
       . . . the conflict in Chechnya will not continue at its 
     present level. It cannot get better so it will only become 
     worse. Not only will pain an suffering intensify with 
     continued fighting but the opportunity for reconciliation or 
     consensual peace will recede further into the realm of the 
     improbable.
       . . . the Clinton Administration (Mr. Aoushev's term) is 
     ignoring human rights violations by Russian military and has 
     not done enough to use its influence to end the conflict.
       I hope you will consider what Mr. Aoushev has to say and I 
     reiterate my earlier and often made suggestion that you 
     should offer to both sides an American negotiator of 
     principle and stature whose task is to urge and prod the 
     parties to this senseless conflict to stop it. How could it 
     hurt? It might help. Continuing to do nothing is to accept or 
     even to encourage more inhumane acts on helpless people.
       Please work to stop this senselessness. Thank you for your 
     time.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                   Washington, DC, April 25, 1996.
     Hon. William J. Clinton,
     The President
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: Thank you for your response to my last 
     letter expressing concern over Chechnya. I have been in 
     Chechnya, seen the results of the war, met with the people 
     there and have a sense of their resolve, their bitterness and 
     their anger. They are a hearty, robust and proud people. 
     Chechens are good fighters and will not yield in this 
     situation, not as long as even a few have the means to 
     resist.
       I believe more must be done and time is running out. Time 
     has already run out for too many Chechen men, women and 
     children as well as for too many Russian soldiers and their 
     families. Though not intended, each time you meet with 
     President Yeltsin or visit Russia . . . with the purpose of 
     propping him up or lending stature to his presidency . . . 
     the opposite and undesired outcome results. Before your 
     meetings, he tries, once again, to clean up events in 
     Chechnya with a renewed and vigorous military onslaught 
     causing more Chechens and more Russian soldiers to die, and 
     the two sides become even more deeply mired in the conflict. 
     President Yeltsin's attempt to make Chechnya disappear from 
     the radar screen before you meet has the opposite and 
     unwanted result of more killing, more conflict and a 
     diminished way out of this mess. He has apparently even found 
     it necessary to lie to you. According to the enclosed Reuters 
     report, the Russian military attacks which resulted in 
     Dzhokhar Dudayev's death were occurring even as President 
     Yeltsin assured you that he was pursuing a peaceful 
     resolution in Chechnya.
       President Yeltsin's history here is one of reacting badly 
     in Chechnya each time you

[[Page H7513]]

     and he are to meet. The outcome inevitably is an even more 
     difficult problem for him and may result in his downfall in 
     the June elections. He may not win reelection without 
     resolving this Chechnya situation.
       I agree that our interests and Russia's as well are better 
     served with Mr. Yeltsin as president when compared to other 
     likely candidates. If he loses, Russia and their federation 
     of states will take a giant stride backward. So I believe 
     America must do all it can to bring resolution to the Chechen 
     conflict, for them, certainly, but for us as well.
       No one, least of all me, wants US involvement on the ground 
     in that region. But America, as no other, is a respected and 
     trusted force standing for freedom and justice. Our 
     leadership alone can drive a peace solution. As I have asked 
     before, and copies of all my earlier letters on this issue 
     are enclosed to refresh your memory, please offer to 
     President Yeltsin . . . and urge him to accept . . . the 
     appointment of an American of considerable stature to 
     negotiate and to search for a peaceful end to this tragedy in 
     Chechnya. I know there are many good candidates, perhaps a 
     retired flag or general officer or a statesman on the order 
     of former Secretary Holbrooke.
       Mr. President, when I first wrote on this issue, our 
     interest was one of bringing a humanitarian end to a needless 
     war in Chechnya. With the passing of time and evolving 
     political fortunes in Russia, our own national interests 
     could be also affected by fall-out from this matter, 
     especially if it results in the return of communism to 
     Russia. This would be bad for America and for the world.
       I believe we must quickly do something here. I respectfully 
     submit these recommendations and will do anything I can to 
     help. If I can persuade you on this matter, I will come over 
     on a moment's notice.
       Please act, Mr. President. Thank you and best regards.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____


                 [From Reuters NewMedia, Apr. 25, 1996]

              Report: Russian 'Copters Attack Chechen Town

       Moscow (Reuter).--Russian helicopter gunships attacked 
     rebel positions in the Chechen town of Shali on Thursday, a 
     day after slain separatist leader Dzhokhar Dudayev was 
     buried. General Vyacheslav Tikhomirov, commander of Russian 
     forces in Chechnya, told Interfax news agency that the 
     gunships had made two ``pinpoint strikes'' on guerrilla 
     positions in Shali, about 25 miles southeast of the regional 
     capital Grozny. The attacks were in response to rebel 
     fighters firing on Wednesday at Russian helicopters which 
     flew over Shali on a reconnaissance mission, he said.
       Interfax said civilians had been killed and wounded in the 
     attacks, though it gave no casualty figure. It said seven 
     people were killed when Russian ground forces opened fire on 
     a civilian convoy trying to flee the town which had been 
     sealed off by Russian troops for six days. A Shali police 
     official, quoted by Interfax, said the Russian attacks had 
     caused considerable destruction. ``People have been killed 
     and wounded,'' he said.
       The renewed Russian air raids followed the death of Dudayev 
     last Sunday in a rocket attack from the air at Gekhi-Chu, 
     about 20 miles south-west of Grozny, as he stood in an open 
     field speaking by satellite telephone. Dudayev, 52, 
     unchallenged leader of the rebellion against Russian rule, 
     was buried on Wednesday at a secret location in the south of 
     the territory. Russian military involvement in killing 
     Dudayev, to whom President Boris Yeltsin had offered indirect 
     talks to end the 16-month conflict, was mired in controversy.
       Tikhomirov was quoted by Interfax as saying his troops had 
     not conducted any special operation to assassinate Dudayev. 
     But an Interior Ministry source said on Wednesday he had been 
     killed in retribution for an ambush last week in which 
     Chechen fighters killed up to 90 Russian soldiers.
       In a more detailed report, Interfax quoted another source 
     as saying Dudayev had been deliberately targeted by a rocket 
     fired from the air which homed in on him by following the 
     signal of his satellite telephone. This source said it was 
     the fifth attempt in the past two or three months to destroy 
     Dudayev by this means. The first four had failed, the source 
     said, because the Chechen leader ended his telephone 
     conversation before the rockets could target him.
       Tikhomirov called the report of retribution ``madness and 
     an attempt to pass on to the federal troops the blame for a 
     possible disruption of a peace settlement in Chechnya.'' He 
     said his forces had stuck to Yeltsin's order to halt military 
     operations and only responded to rebel attacks.
       Yeltsin ordered troops into Chechnya in December 1994 to 
     crush its independence drive. Over 30,000 people, mostly 
     civilians, are believed to have died and Yeltsin is trying to 
     end the conflict to boost his chances of winning a second 
     term as president in a June poll. He unveiled a peace plan on 
     March 31 which included a halt to Russia's military 
     offensive, partial withdrawal of troops and indirect talks 
     with Dudayev. But the plan allowed ``special operations 
     against terrorists.''
       It was not clear how the killing of Dudayev and his 
     replacement by Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, a hardline pro-
     independence ideologist, could affect peace efforts.
                                                                    ____



                                              The White House,

                                         Washington, May 11, 1996.
     Hon. Frank R. Wolf,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Frank Wolf: Thank you for sharing the article on 
     Chechnya.
       We have made our position on Chechnya clear to the Russians 
     at the highest level. The President raised it with President 
     Yeltsin in their April 21 bilateral in Moscow. He also 
     addressed it in subsequent correspondence and in a May 7 
     phone conversation. In these exchanges, the President urged 
     the Russians to seek a negotiated settlement and to restrain 
     their military actions; he also made clear that we stand 
     ready to do whatever we can to facilitate a settlement.
       We have additionally approached a number of third countries 
     to ask that they press the Russian and Chechen sides to 
     pursue a negotiated solution, and, in a demarche at the 
     Russian Foreign Ministry, our Ambassador expressed in detail 
     at the end of April our concern about ongoing Russian 
     military actions.
       President Yeltsin has indicated that he would like to get 
     negotiations underway with the Chechens. Dudayev's death has 
     changed the equation, but it is not yet clear whether this 
     will facilitate or further complicate the search for peace.
       I know you share our distress at the fighting. We will 
     continue our strong advocacy for a peaceful end to this 
     tragic conflict.
           Sincerely,

                                                 Anthony Lake,

                                    Assistant to the President for
     National Security Affairs.
                                                                    ____



                                              The White House,

                                          Washington, May 7, 1996.
     Hon. Frank R. Wolf,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Wolf: Thank you for your recent letter 
     on Chechnya. I fully share your concern about the Chechnya 
     conflict.
       I discussed the conflict with President Yeltsin on April 21 
     and urged, as I have in the past, that he seek a peaceful 
     settlement. We have had other high-level communications 
     regarding Chechnya with the Russian government since my 
     return from Moscow and have urged a halt to Russian military 
     actions. We have also approached a number of third countries 
     to ask that they press the Russian and Chechen sides to 
     pursue a negotiated solution.
       I have told President Yeltsin that the United States is 
     prepared to do whatever it can to support a peaceful 
     settlement. To date, neither side has asked for an American 
     intermediary, but, if such a request were made, we would 
     certainly consider it. As you know, the Organization on 
     Security and Cooperation in Europe maintains a mission in 
     Groznyy, which has in the past facilitated Russian-Chechen 
     talks. And several prominent Russians, as well as King Hassan 
     II of Morocco, have been approached by the Russian government 
     to provide good offices.
       We will continue to urge the Russians to seek a peaceful 
     end to this tragic conflict. Thank you for your continued 
     interest.
           Sincerely,
     Bill Clinton.
                                                                    ____



                                              The White House,

                                          Washington, May 7, 1996.
     Hon. Frank R. Wolf,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Wolf: Thank you for your letter on the 
     conflict in Chechnya. I share your concern; the fighting 
     there has been a tragedy--for Chechens, for Russians and for 
     friends of Russian democracy.
       We do not believe that use of force can resolve this issue. 
     I therefore welcomed the March 31 announcement by President 
     Yeltsin of steps to halt the conflict and intensify the 
     search for a negotiated solution. Unfortunately, fighting has 
     continued. We have urged both the Russian and Chechen sides 
     to seize the opportunity they now have to reach a peaceful 
     resolution.
       I have raised Chechnya regularly in my exchanges with 
     President Yeltsin. I will do so again during my upcoming 
     visit to Moscow, where I will continue to underscore the need 
     for a negotiated settlement.
       Thank you for your interest on this issue.
           Sincerely,
     Bill Clinton.
                                                                    ____



                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, April 20, 1995.
     Hon. Frank R. Wolf,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Wolf: Thank you for your letter 
     concerning the conflict in Chechnya and my meeting with 
     President Yeltsin. I also understand you have discussed this 
     with Strobe Talbott and Sandy Berger, and I appreciate your 
     views.
       I accepted the invitation to participate in V-E Day 
     ceremonies in Moscow and scheduled a bilateral meeting with 
     President Yeltsin based on my conviction that continued 
     engagement with Russia is vital to our own self-interest in 
     seeing Moscow continue along the difficult transitional 
     course it has charted. That engagement takes numerous forms, 
     including the respect we convey to

[[Page H7514]]

     the Russian people by honoring their considerable sacrifices 
     as our ally during the Second World War. As you have 
     suggested, during my visit to Moscow, I plan to speak 
     directly to the Russian people to underscore the long-term 
     interest we share in building a stable and friendly 
     relationship at all levels--and also to state what we expect 
     from Russia if we are to achieve such a relationship. I also 
     will meet with a range of Russian leaders.
       Pragmatic engagement will be the theme of my meetings in 
     Moscow with President Yeltsin and other Russian leaders. 
     Russian and American interests coincide in a number of 
     important areas: continuing the nuclear build-down, upgrading 
     control and protection over fissile stockpiles, containing 
     and resolving regional conflicts like the Middle East, and 
     promoting Russia's integration into the global economic 
     system. High-level meetings help advance our interests in 
     these areas. It is equally important, at the same time, to 
     remain engaged to work through areas where we and Moscow 
     differ, such as European security, reactor sales to Iran, and 
     Chechnya. I have stated my views on the Chechen conflict 
     clearly, in public and in private contacts with Yeltsin: the 
     humanitarian toll of the fighting is unacceptable and the 
     search for a political solution must intensify, ideally 
     through the good offices of the OSCE, with respect for 
     Russia's territorial integrity. As you noted in your letter, 
     continuation of the bloodshed threatens Russia's nascent 
     democracy. However, it is my firm belief that rejecting 
     dialogue with the Russian leadership to protest actions with 
     which we disagree would minimize our chances of effecting a 
     positive outcome, and would deal a serious blow to the forces 
     of reform that find themselves increasingly challenged in 
     Russia today.
       I continue to view the maintenance of good relations with a 
     stable, reforming Russia to be among my highest priorities as 
     President. I genuinely value your perspectives on this 
     question and thank you again for taking the time to share 
     them with me and with my advisors.
           Sincerely,
     Bill Clinton.
                                                                    ____



                                              The White House,

                                       Washington, March 16, 1996.
     Representative Frank Wolf,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Wolf: Thank you for your letter on 
     Chechnya. I know you have followed this issue closely, and I 
     fully share your frustration at watching this conflict drag 
     on; it is a tragedy for both the Chechens and Russians alike.
       We have consistently encouraged the Russian government to 
     end the cycle of violence and seek a peaceful solution to the 
     conflict, including in my own conversations with President 
     Yeltsin. President Yeltsin has said that he needs to end the 
     conflict, and we have followed with interest reports that 
     Moscow is developing a new peace plan. We will certainly do 
     what we can to support such an effort.
           Sincerely,
     Bill Clinton.
                                                                    ____



                                              The White House,

                                         Washington, July 5, 1995.
     Representative Frank Wolf,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Wolf: Thank you for your recent letter 
     regarding the report of the House Subcommittee on Foreign 
     Operations Appropriations suggesting that U.S. assistance to 
     Chechnya be channeled through the OSCE and non-governmental 
     organizations.
       I understand from Tony Lake that you had a sobering visit 
     to Chechnya several weeks ago. The conflict is a tragedy for 
     all concerned. We hope the talks begun on June 19 under OSCE 
     auspices succeed in bringing a political solution to the 
     conflict and have urged all parties to take full advantage of 
     the talks.
       I also noted the report language on Fred Cuny. I raised our 
     concern about him with President Yeltsin in Halifax; he 
     assured me the Russians would do everything that they could.
           Sincerely,
     Bill Clinton.
                                                                    ____



                                              The White House,

                                    Washington, February 22, 1995.
     Hon. Frank R. Wolf,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Wolf: Thank you for your recent letter 
     regarding the conflict in Chechnya. I agree that the violence 
     in Chechnya is a tragedy for everyone involved.
       While we have publicly stated that Chechnya is part of 
     Russia, we have criticized the toll of death and suffering 
     the military action has inflicted on innocent civilians. In 
     our private discussions and in our public statements, we have 
     strongly urged an end to the violence. We have also supported 
     the positive role international organizations, such as the 
     OSCE, can play in helping to bring about a lasting end to the 
     bloodshed and in providing humanitarian assistance. I have 
     been in close touch with President Yeltsin and am certain he 
     understands these concerns.
       The events in Chechnya are a reminder that the processes of 
     reform and democratization underway in Russia--and throughout 
     the former Soviet Union--will encounter setbacks. While no 
     one can predict the final outcome, it is far too early to 
     write off reform in Russia. Indeed, our policy seeks to 
     maximize the chance that reform will be sustained and will 
     succeed. It is important during these periods of uncertainty 
     to recall the profound stake the United States has in 
     promoting Russia's further progress on the path to reform.
       Our assistance to Russia serves important U.S. interests: 
     building democratic institutions, contributing to the safe 
     dismantlement of the former Soviet nuclear arsenal, 
     encouraging privatization and private enterprise and vastly 
     broadening the access of the Russian people to Western ideas 
     and methods. I hope I can count on your leadership in the new 
     Congress to continue bipartisan support of the important 
     interests.
           Sincerely,
     Bill Clinton.
                                                                    ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, April 4, 1996.
     Hon. Warren Christopher,
     Secretary of State,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Secretary: I am writing to again raise the tragic 
     situation in Chechnya. Some 40,000 civilians are dead, 
     hundreds of thousands are homeless and, yet, this was not 
     even a topic of discussion during your recent visit to 
     Moscow. Why should the United States step in? Each time a 
     high-level U.S. delegation has visited Moscow, President 
     Yeltsin, seemingly in an attempt to put this issue aside, 
     steps up the intensity of the military action and more 
     Chechen civilians get pummeled.
       President Yeltsin now seems to be making efforts to 
     establish peace. He has called a cease-fire and the fighting 
     has died down somewhat. We all hope his efforts are sincere, 
     lasting and fruitful. But like a family trying to work out 
     solutions to irreconcilable problems, sometimes the issues 
     are too difficult to resolve alone. Feelings run too high and 
     past wrongs have seared too vivid a memory to bring about 
     resolution. Families often need to bring in outside help to 
     provide counsel and objectivity, defuse tensions, arbitrate 
     unresolvable differences and provide a fresh outlook. This is 
     a mediation role only the United States can play in resolving 
     this brutal conflict. I ask that you consider offering to 
     both sides the use of a high-level negotiator of 
     unquestionable stature: someone, perhaps, who has held at 
     least a cabinet position in our government.
       When I visited Grozny last May, there seemed little of the 
     town left to destroy. Yet reports of death and destruction 
     continue. What can we lose by offering to negotiate between 
     the parties? Things could grow even worse after the June 
     elections if the winner of the presidential race senses a 
     mandate to end the conflict in Chechnya by any means.
       I hope the U.S. will lend its weight to seek a speedy 
     resolution. Please consider appointing a high-level 
     negotiator to shuttle between the sides and push for peace. 
     Our neutrality should cease to be indifference and we should 
     use our voice, our experience and our economic power to 
     stridently work for peace in Russia.
       It's not too late. But too many have died. I urge you to 
     take decisive action.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                Washington, DC, February 21, 1996.
     Hon. William J. Clinton,
     The President,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: As you know, I traveled to Chechnya in 
     May of last year to view the ravages of war in that part of 
     the world. I have enclosed a copy of my trip report.
       It has been frustrating to see this conflict drag on for 
     over a year and the fighting and hostage-taking flare up 
     again in recent weeks. The Russians seem to be getting more 
     militaristic, but I understand that President Yeltsin 
     recently acknowledged the importance of dealing with the 
     conflict before the elections. The U.S. should strongly 
     support President Yeltsin in any of his efforts to bring 
     peaceful resolution to the conflict and, if necessary, serve 
     as the catalyst for peace in the region. Perhaps the U.S. 
     could help bring the sides together or serve as a mediator.
       The U.S. should use every opportunity to strongly encourage 
     the Russian government to end this conflict peacefully. It's 
     in the best interest of Russia, and ultimately, the best 
     interest of the United States.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                     Washington, DC, May 15, 1996.
     Hon. Anthony Lake,
     National Security Advisor, National Security Council, The 
         White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Tony: I received the President's most recent letter 
     outlining some actions he has taken to resolve the crisis in 
     Chechnya.
       I wanted to share a copy of a Special Order I gave on the 
     House floor last week. We are really not doing enough over 
     there. I think more could and should be done.
       Best wishes.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
                                               Member of Congress.

[[Page H7515]]




                                     House of Representatives,

                                Washington, DC, February 21, 1996.
     Hon. William J. Clinton,
     The President,
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: As you know, I traveled to Chechnya in 
     May of last year to view the ravages of war in that part of 
     the world. I have enclosed a copy of my trip report.
       It has been frustrating to see this conflict drag on for 
     over a year and the fighting and hostage-taking flare up 
     again in recent weeks. The Russians seem to be getting more 
     militaristic, but I understand that President Yeltsin 
     recently acknowledge the importance of dealing with the 
     conflict before the elections. The U.S. should strongly 
     support President Yeltsin in any of his efforts to bring 
     peaceful resolution to the conflict and, if necessary, serve 
     as the catalyst for peace in the region. Perhaps the U.S. 
     could help bring the sides together or serve as a mediator.
       The U.S. should use every opportunity to strongly encourage 
     the Russian government to end this conflict peacefully. It's 
     in the best interest of Russia, and ultimately, the best 
     interest of the United States.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____



                                     House of Representatives,

                                 Washington, DC, January 26, 1995.
     Hon. Willaim J. Clinton,
     The President,
     The White House, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: The brutal conflict in Chechnya is now 
     in its second month. Gruesome images of the fighting emerge 
     day after day. Thousands of Chechnyans have died in the 
     fighting, including many innocent women and children.
       While the U.S. position has been that this is an ``internal 
     Russian affair,'' the American people certainly have an 
     interest in bringing an end to the fighting. Besides the 
     obvious human tragedy occurring as men, women and children 
     continue to die, Russia is a major recipient of U.S. foreign 
     aid. This war is causing many in the Congress to consider 
     whether Russia is deserving of such aid and whether the 
     entire U.S.-Russian relationship should be re-examined, 
     particularly our close ties to President Yeltsin. 
     Continuation of this conflict will have major implications 
     for the future of the Yeltsin government, the Russian economy 
     and Russia's already fragile relationship with its neighbors. 
     I believe our government should use its diplomatic leverage 
     now to help bring peace to the region.
       I am writing to propose that you appoint former President 
     George Bush, or possibly former Secretary of State James 
     Baker, as special emissary for this purpose: to go to Moscow, 
     meet with President Yeltsin and other Russian leaders, and 
     present your viewpoint on the importance of quickly ending 
     the Chechnyan conflict. I believe President Bush could be 
     very helpful in ending the fighting and stopping the killing.
       Mr. President, I hope you will give careful consideration 
     to this proposal and move quickly in sending an emissary to 
     Russia. Thank you.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____


                      Chechnya--Terror in Progress


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, July 12, 1996.
       Dear Colleague: There is a country song in which the singer 
     pleads for one more last chance. Perhaps that is where 
     civilized and compassionate people are with regard to 
     bringing to an end the killing and destruction that have 
     rained down upon the Chechen people for the past several 
     years. Please read David Hoffman's report for The Washington 
     Post talking about the new direction and the new intensity 
     this 19 month war is taking following Russian President Boris 
     Yeltsin's re-election victory. It is printed on the reverse.
       With leadership struggles behind them, there is little 
     reason for the Russian government to pursue a lasting cease 
     fire or even a peaceful end to the conflict. Rather, many 
     would now predict an intensified effort to pound the Chechens 
     into the ground and into total submission.
       It didn't have to be this way. Our government has mostly 
     sat on its diplomatic hands as this conflict has raged. At 
     the outset, statements by our officials likening this clash 
     to our own civil war and setting forth a ``hands off'' policy 
     were ill advised, provided Russian hard-liners with more 
     backbone and destroyed the hopes of Chechens.
       Each time the President, Secretary of State or other high 
     official scheduled a meeting with President Yeltsin or his 
     leadership, the Russian military would renew the fighting in 
     hopes of ending the war before the issue could be raised 
     between our governments thereby having the unintended effect 
     of killing more people and ratchetting up the pain and 
     suffering of everyone in that terrible place. They were never 
     successful in ending the war but levels of killing, 
     destruction, pain and hatred soared.
       We could have . . . we should have pressed Boris Yeltsin 
     and his government to restore peace to Chechnya. We should 
     have encouraged him to negotiate a resolution and offered to 
     provide a high level person, experienced and wise in 
     diplomacy and international affairs, to help the sides find a 
     settlement and end the horrors of war. But we did not. And 
     the hour grows late.
       Now the killing and destruction have resumed. And President 
     Yeltsin does not feel pressed to end it. If nothing is done, 
     more will die. But we have one more last chance. Vice 
     President Gore soon leaves for high level meetings in Moscow. 
     He can speak out against the continuation of this senseless 
     slaughter. He can label these acts for what they are: 
     genocide. He can offer to help bring about a negotiated 
     peace; provide a top level negotiator to help both sides 
     search for common ground.
       Congress should expect the administration to stand firm on 
     ending this havoc. Please encourage President Clinton and 
     Vice President Gore to put America on the just side of this 
     matter. Thank you.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Frank R. Wolf,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____


                       [From the Washington Post]

           Russia Pounds Chechens as Election Truce Unravels

                           (By David Hoffman)

       Moscow, July 10.--Russia's pre-election truce with Chechen 
     separatists continued to unravel today as Russian helicopter 
     gunships and ground troops pounded two Chechen villages in 
     the heaviest fighting since cease-fire agreements were 
     reached on May 28 and June 10.
       The strikes came against rebel positions in the villages of 
     Gekhi, 20 miles southwest of the capital, Grozny, and 
     Mahkety, 22 miles south of Grozny. The Chechen rebel leader, 
     Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, reportedly has a headquarters in 
     Mahkety, and several hundred of his fighters are in Gekhi, 
     which was attacked Tuesday and today. Russian troops were 
     reported pulling back from Gekhi tonight.
       Casualties were reported among Chechen civilians and 
     Russian soldiers. The Interfax news agency said 15 to 30 
     civilians were killed in the assault on Gekhi; the Russian 
     military said 20 were killed. Hundreds of villagers fled the 
     assault on foot. Russia lost eight servicemen, news agencies 
     said, and television reports said another 20 had been 
     captured by the rebels. There were no reports on rebel 
     casualties.
       Interfax quoted a Russian military spokesman, Maj. Igor 
     Melnikov, as saying that Russian commanders have ordered the 
     capture of Yandarbiyev, but the report was later denied. 
     Melnikov said the strikes were in response to the rebels' 
     ignoring an ultimatum by the Russian commander, Gen. 
     Vyacheslav Tikhomirov, who threatened to wipe them out if 
     they failed to release all soldiers held captive by Tuesday 
     night.
       The cease-fire agreement included a deadline for Russia to 
     remove its checkpoints in Chechnya and for an exchange of 
     prisoners. Each side has accused the other of failing to 
     honor its commitment, and they have been in a war of words 
     since late June. The Organization for Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which brokered the peace talks, 
     issued a statement in Grozny today warning that fighting 
     could spread.
       According to Interfax, the OSCE statement said that despite 
     the ceasefire agreements, the ``political settlement in 
     Chechnya has practically been suspended.'' However, the 
     organization's chief representative in Chechnya, Tim 
     Guldimann, said a new meeting between Chechen and Russian 
     negotiators is still possible.
       The cease-fire was an important factor in Russian President 
     Boris Yeltsin's victory, since it pointed toward an end to 
     the 19-month-old war, which has claimed at least 30,000 
     lives, most of them civilians. The swift degeneration of the 
     truce into another armed confrontation raised hackles in the 
     lower house of parliament, the State Duma, which voted today 
     to ask Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin to explain the 
     surge in fighting.
       Sergei Yushenkov, a member of the Duma's defense committee, 
     called on Chernomyrdin, who is head of a special government 
     commission on Chechnya, to explain why the government was 
     making improper use of the army to punish the rebels.
       ``I have to think it over,'' Chernomyrdin said of the 
     Duma's request. Chernomyrdin told reporters while touring an 
     art exhibit in Moscow that the situation is ``under control'' 
     and that ``there will be no war in Chechnya.'' Chernomyrdin 
     said the Russian offensive was a response to ``insolent'' 
     rebel commanders.
       Alexander Lebed, Yeltsin's new security chief and a 
     longtime critic of the war, blamed the rebels for the latest 
     surge in fighting. Interfax quoted him as saying the 
     responsibility is that of ``Yandarbiyev and other leaders of 
     armed gangs.'' Lebed is expected to visit Chechnya but said 
     he would not do so until next week at the earliest.
       Meanwhile, Yeltsin delivered a nationally televised speech 
     from the Kremlin today after being certified as the official 
     winner of the presidential contest. His inauguration has been 
     set for Aug. 9 in the Kremlin's Cathedral Square.
       Although his aides have predicted an imminent government 
     shakeup, Yeltsin's address offered few clues to his second-
     term plans. He said ``the reform course will continue,'' but 
     he also said economic policy ``requires serious 
     correctives.''
       He added, ``The main thing now is to impart a second wind 
     to [industrial] production, to place orders with the 
     enterprises and to give jobs to people,'' He also promised 
     ``full and timely payment of everything the

[[Page H7516]]

     people have earned,'' a reference to months-overdue wages and 
     pensions.
       Yeltsin has not appeared in public since he became ill 
     before the July 3 runoff election, but he spoke confidently 
     and without any outward sign of illness.
       In a separate address to ethnic Russians in former Soviet 
     republics that are now independent, Yeltsin vowed to provide 
     ``permanent care and support from your homeland.''

                          ____________________