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Thursday, 30 January 2003

PACE YIELDS TO RUSSIAN PRESSURE OVER RESOLUTION ON CHECHNYA

Published in News Digest

By empty (1/30/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 29 January amended the wording of a draft resolution on Chechnya, removing the demand supported by rapporteur Lord Frank Judd for postponing the planned 23 March referendum on a new Chechen constitution and election legislation. Instead, the final version of the resolution notes concern that \"the necessary conditions for the holding of the referendum may not be created by the stated date.\" Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Dmitrii Rogozin warned on 29 January that Moscow might demand Judd be replaced as rapporteur if he continues to advocate a postponement, adding that Judd \"completely misunderstands\" the situation in Chechnya.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 29 January amended the wording of a draft resolution on Chechnya, removing the demand supported by rapporteur Lord Frank Judd for postponing the planned 23 March referendum on a new Chechen constitution and election legislation. Instead, the final version of the resolution notes concern that \"the necessary conditions for the holding of the referendum may not be created by the stated date.\" Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Dmitrii Rogozin warned on 29 January that Moscow might demand Judd be replaced as rapporteur if he continues to advocate a postponement, adding that Judd \"completely misunderstands\" the situation in Chechnya. Interfax quoted Judd as saying he will continue to lobby for a postponement. Judd said again in Strasbourg on 29 January that the conditions set down by the PACE Political Committee for holding a referendum have not been created, an RFE/RL correspondent reported. He said holding the referendum before such political and security conditions are in place could prove \"a terrible mistake.\" (RFE/RL)
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