On December
13, 2001, Russian President Vladimir Putin
conducted a
public news conference with the Financial Times of London that was
published
by them on 15 December 2001. During the course of this interview,
President
Putin admitted and conceded yet again that the Russian Federation had
officially recognized both the de jure and the de facto independence of
the
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. To quote President Putin's exact words:
FT: For the war on terrorism, do you expect more support from the
international coalition in Chechnya?
Mr. Putin: We believe that this would be well grounded, and fair. And we
should state honestly what has been happening there all this time, what
is
happening there now.
In 1996 Russia withdrew all its military and law enforcement forces from
the
territory of Chechnya. Thus de facto, if not de jure, we granted
independence to Chechnya. So nobody can accuse us of suppressing the
desire
of the Chechen people for independence. Once already we have given them
such
an opportunity....
The Russian Federation is bound by President Putin's latest Admission
Against Interest.
President Putin, President Yeltsin and the Russian
Federation
have repeatedly recognized both the de jure and the de facto
independence of
the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. The other governments of the world
must do
no less. The world's governments must take President Putin, President
Yeltsin and the Russian Federation at their word, as well as respect
what
President Putin, President Yeltsin and the Russian Federation have
repeatedly done, admitted, and conceded: The Russian Federation has
already
recognized the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria as an Independent Nation
State
under international law and practice, both de jure and de facto.
The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria qualifies as an Independent Nation
State
under international law and practice in its own right. It must be
recognized
as such by the other governments of the world. Such diplomatic
recognition
will send a strong message to the Russian Federation that it must
terminate
its ongoing genocide against the Chechen People in gross violation of
the
1948 Genocide Convention.
According to Article I of the Genocide Convention, all
contracting parties thereto have an obligation "to prevent" this ongoing
Russian genocide against the Chechens. We call upon all governments of
the
world to recognize the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in order "to
prevent"
further Russian genocide against the Chechen People, as these
governments
are required to do by Article I of the Genocide Convention. We also call
upon all people of good faith and good will around the world to demand
that
their own governments recognize the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in
order
"to prevent" further Russian genocide against the Chechen People, as
these
governments are required to do by Article I of the Genocide Convention.
Time
is of the essence!
