[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 18 (Thursday, February 24, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S825-S826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 262--ENTITLED THE ``PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE 
                         CONFLICT IN CHECHNYA''

  Mr. WELLSTONE submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 262

       Whereas the people of Chechnya are exercising the 
     legitimate right of self-defense against the indiscriminate 
     use of force by the Government of the Russian Federation;
       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has used 
     disproportionate force in the bombings of civilian targets 
     Chechnya

[[Page S826]]

     which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent 
     civilians and the displacement of well over 250,000 others;
       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has 
     refused to engage in negotiations with the Chechen resistance 
     toward a just peace and instead has charged Chechen President 
     Aslan Maskhadov with armed mutiny and issued a warrant for 
     his arrest;
       Whereas Russian authorities deny access to regions in and 
     around Chechnya by the international community, including 
     officials of the United Nations, Organization for Security 
     Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe, and maintain 
     a virtual ban on access to Chechen civilians by media and 
     international humanitarian organizations, including the 
     International Federation of the Red Cross;
       Whereas these restrictions severely limited the ability of 
     these organizations to ascertain the extent of the 
     humanitarian crisis and to provide humanitarian relief;
       Whereas even limited testimony and general investigation 
     organizations credibly report widespread looting, summary 
     executions, detentions, denial of safe passage to fleeing 
     civilians, torture and rape committed by Russian soldiers;
       Whereas there are credible reports of specific atrocities 
     committed by Russian soldiers in Chechnya, including the 
     rampages in Alkhan-Yurt where 17 persons were killed in 
     December 1999 and in the Staropromyslovsky district of Grozny 
     where 44 persons killed in December 1999; and the rapes of 
     Chechnya prisoners in the Chernokosovo detention camp;
       Whereas these credible reports indicate clear violations of 
     international human rights standards and law that must be 
     investigated, and those responsible must be held accountable;
       Whereas United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 
     Mary Robinson proposed on February 20, 2000, the prosecution 
     of Russian military commanders for overseeing ``executions, 
     tortures, and rapes''; and
       Whereas the Senate expresses its concern over the conflict 
     and humanitarian tragedy in Chechnya, and its desire for a 
     peaceful resolution and durable settlement to the conflict: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the Government of the Russian Federation--
       (A) immediately cease its military operations in Chechnya 
     and initiate negotiations toward a just peace with the 
     leadership of the Chechnya Government, including President 
     Aslan Maskhadov;
       (B) allow into and around Chechnya international missions 
     to monitor and report on the situation there and to 
     investigate alleged atrocities and war crimes;
       (C) allow international humanitarian agencies immediate 
     full and unimpeded access to Chechen civilians, including 
     those in refugee, detention and so called ``filtration 
     camps'' or any other facility where citizens of Chechnya are 
     detained; and
       (D) investigate fully the atrocities committed in Chechnya 
     including those alleged in Alkhan-Yurt, and Grozny, and 
     initiate prosecutions against those officers and soldiers 
     accused.
       (2) the President of the United States of America--
       (A) should promote peace negotiations between the 
     Government of the Russian Federation and the leadership of 
     the Chechen Government, including President Aslan Mashkadov, 
     through third party mediation by the OSCE, United Nations or 
     other appropriate parties;
       (B) endorse the call of the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Human Rights for an investigation of alleged 
     war crimes committed by the Russian military in Chechnya; and
       (C) should take tangible to demonstrate to the Government 
     of the Russian Federation that the United States strongly 
     condemns its brutal conduct in Chechnya and its unwillingness 
     to find a just political solution to the conflict in 
     Chechnya.

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