§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Russian Government on the present conflict on Chechnya; and what was their response. [17217]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorMy right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed Chechnya with the former Russian Foreign Minister Kozyrev in Moscow on 5 September. At that time the Russian Government were experiencing problems over the implementation of the military agreement negotiated in July 1995 with Chechen rebels but were hoping for a political solution within the Russian constitution.
Since then we have been maintaining a dialogue through diplomatic channels, and supporting, with our EU partners, the efforts of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe to promote a negotiated settlement.