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President Vladimir Putin has said that life in Chechnya returns to
normal and there is no need of major military operations in the republic.
The Russian president voiced this opinion in the French city of Bordeaux
where he met with local journalists. Here is more from our commentator
Yevgeny Kryshkin.
Vladimir Putin reminded that in Chechnya Russia had to cope with the
expansion of international terrorism and Islamic extremism. According to
him, the ideas of creating an Islamic caliphate differ little from Nazi
ideas of world domination or those of a Communist victory in the whole
of the world. He also reminded that back in 1996 Chechnya was actually
granted independence. Yet three years later radically-minded groups used
the republic as a stronghold for attacking neighboring Dagestan. To stop
the aggression and prevent destabilization of the situation in Russia a
decision was taken to move military operations on to the territory of Chechnya.
Much has been done in the intervening period. Bandit organizations
and their infrastructure have been destroyed. Courts and prosecutors' offices
began functioning again. Recently the republic's Interior Ministry which
is responsible for law and order has been fully staffed with local residents.
Local government bodies are functioning. Refugees return to their homes.
Industrial and agricultural enterprises are being restored. Housing construction
is under way. This does not mean, however, that there are no problems in
the republic. Mercenaries and terrorists who stay in Chechnya are prepared
to stage more terrorist attacks. The Chechen authorities, president Putin
said, must respond to terrorist raids adequately.
As for the forthcoming referendum on the republic's Constitution, according
to Vladimir Putin, it is held at the initiative of the Chechens. Russian
leaders supported this initiative, they see a referendum and the forthcoming
presidential and parliamentary elections as the beginning of the process
of a political settlement in the republic.
The international community is inclined to share this opinion. Say,
the commissioner for human rights of the Council of Europe Alvaro Gil-Robles
believes that the adoption of the constitution can radically change the
situation in the republic. International observers will supervise the voting
at the forthcoming referendum. Under the draft Constitution Chechnya remains
a territorial entity of the Russian Federation. The highest executive power
is vested in the president and the government, the highest legislative
authority is parliament.
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