[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 18 (Thursday, February 24, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S834-S835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE CONFLICT IN CHECHNYA

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 262, introduced 
earlier today by Senator Wellstone.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 262) entitled ``Peaceful Resolution 
     of the Conflict in Chechnya.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 262) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              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;

[[Page S835]]

       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has used 
     disproportionate force in the bombings of civilian targets in 
     Chechnya 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 
     and 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 by 
     international organizations credibly reported 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 were killed in December 1999; and the rapes 
     of Chechen 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; 
     and
       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 Chechen 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 
     cramps'' 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 steps 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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