Russia and Chechen Rebels to Discuss Disarmament
Chechen rebels and Russian government representatives will sit down within the next 10 days to discuss President Vladimir V. Putin’s proposal to disarm, a Russian official said Wednesday.
Viktor Kazantsev, Putin’s representative in the southern region that includes Chechnya, said rebel representative Ahmed Zakayev had contacted him Wednesday about holding discussions.
“We welcome this step, approve of it and are ready to receive them and hear them out,” Kazantsev said in televised remarks. “I think this meeting will take place within the next 10 days.”
Aslan Maskhadov, president of Chechnya’s self-proclaimed separatist government, welcomed the offer and appointed Zakayev as his envoy in the negotiations.
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