Speaking in Washington on 18 March, Chechen Foreign Minister Ilyas Akhmadov presented a new peace plan under which Chechnya would enjoy what he termed \"conditional independence,\" chechenpress.com reported. It is not clear to what extent that status corresponds to that proposed last year by former Russian parliament speaker Ruslan Khasbulatov. Akhmadov told a briefing at RFE/RL that his plan further provides for the withdrawal from Chechnya of Russian troops and their replacement by a UN peacekeeping contingent, followed by elections to new bodies of power. He said he doubts the planned 23 March referendum on a new Chechen constitution will bring lasting peace to Chechnya. (RFE/RL)