September 23, 2003 - 21:59 AMT
CHECHEN FIGHTERS GATHER IN BAKU
According to a number of sources, October 5, when the presidential election has to be held in Baku, closest companions-in-arms of leader of Chechen fighters Aslan Maskhadov intend to organize an international conference, which will declare that the international community does not recognize the results of the vote. Thereupon, as reported by "Regnum" agency, the Russian embassy in Azerbaijan yesterday made a statement, expressing hope that corresponding Azeri services "will not admit a flow of lie of apologists of separatism and terrorism to issue from the Azeri land." The document also expresses hope that is will not happen on the land of the neighbor, which is moreover an anti-terrorist coalition partner. In the words of press attache of the Russian embassy Gennady Yevsyukov, otherwise official Moscow would take it as an extremely unfriendly step. Meanwhile, Chechen human right proponent Mayrbek Taramov, residing in Azerbaijan, stated that in early October a measure will really take place in Baku - a seminar of ethnic minorities of the Caucasus under the aegis of the Council of Europe (CE), in which Chechens will participate, too. However, after clearing up the situation head of the CE Baku office Inkeri Aarnio-Lwoff did not confirm the information provided by Taramov that such a seminar would be held under the aegis of the CE.