§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ask the Russian Government to accept the offer made by President Ruslan Ausaev of Ingushetia to mediate in Chechnya.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyWe continue to press the Russians to reach a negotiated settlement in Chechnya using all channels available to them. One of the chief objectives of the OSCE mission, which arrived in Grozny on 25 April, will be to pursue dialogue and negotiations with a view to reaching a lasting political settlement.