[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.''
____________________