- Being aware that all people, irrespective of their race, beliefs, languages and gender, possess the inherent right to a peaceful life; and that respect for this right and for other human rights is in the interest of all mankind and is an inalienable condition of the development of all nations, small and big, in every sphere;

- Recognizing that peace between nations is of supreme value to mankind, and is most treasured by all major political, social, and religious movements;

- Reminding that the UN charter proclaims its determination to rid future generations of the catastrophes of war and to ensure the adoption of principles under which armed forces -- only in the common interest -- should be used;

- Reminding of nations' right to self-determination, in accordance with which all nations have the right to freely determine their political status and to carry out their economic, social and cultural development;

- Denouncing and rejecting terrorism as an instrument in the solution of political, ethnic, religious, social and otherconflicts;

- Taking into account that the history of relations between the Russian state and the Chechen people presents a long-standing conflict constituted of wars, rebellions, and deportations, with short breaks of peace;

- Being convinced that there are no political forces either in Russia or Chechnya capable of settling the conflict, which has been plunged into deep crisis;

- Being concerned that for the past five years this conflict has led to two bloody wars, numerous casualties among peaceful civilians, and the destruction of towns and villages, industrial objects, and places of heritage, and to the mass exodus of people from Chechnya and to large-scale humanitariancatastrophe;

- Being convinced that there is no forthcoming solution in the conflict between the Russian state and Chechen people, and that even if Russia announces its victory over Chechen resistance fighters, the conflict would drag on in the form of guerrilla warfare and terrorism, later to again deteriorate into all-outwar;

- Taking into account that the world community finds it acceptable to interfere in the internal affairs of other states (for example: Bosnia, Kampuchea, Yugoslavia, and numerous African countries) with the purpose of preventing mass violations of human rights, genocide and bloodshed, from being carried out inside the country;

- Guided by the fact that the international community finds it necessary to adopt a new legal solution to people's right of self-determination and to the principle of state territorial integrity, when "integrity" no longer plays a dominant role;

BEING CONVINCED THAT NON-INTERFERENCE OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY in the conflict between Russia and Chechnya can lead to the extermination of Chechens, to large-scale catastrophe, and to uncontrolled developments not just in the Caucasus;

- Being governed by the lofty goal of facilitating a peaceful solution of the long-standing conflict between Russia and Chechnya;

The Caucasian Peace Initiative appeals to the world community, represented by the UN, OSCE, Council of Europe - PACE, the European Union and NATO to immediately take on the function of a peaceful settlement between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, and suggests the following:

PLAN OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN CHECHEN REPUBLIC OF ICHKERIA

· The United Nations take on the commitment of settling the Russian-Chechen conflict on the basis of the Khasavyurt agreement of 1996 and the Treaty of Peace (1997) between Russia and Chechnya - both based on the principle of Chechnya's recognition in conformance with international law.

· The warring sides announce immediate and unequivocal cease-fire. In accordance with articles 75 and 76 of the UN Charter, an international system of protection in Chechen Republic of Ichkeria be introduced, subsequently to be recognized as a "territory under UN protection". An international peace-keepers' contingent be introduced in the "territory under UN protection".

· Withdrawal of all armed forces, police, and security service structures be implemented from "the territory under UN protection" to permanent locations in Russia. All armed formations of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria be disbanded and disarmed on "the territory under UN protection", with the implementation of general arms decommissioning.

· "The territory under UN protection" remain under UN jurisdiction until complete restoration of national economy, social, cultural infrastructures, creation of democratic bodies of power, conditions for peaceful and secure life, return of refugees and those who left Chechnya prior to the war due to political or other reasons, with both the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria giving up the sovereign rights proclaimed in their Constitutions on "the territory under UN protection", Russian Federation suspend and disband all structures created for the government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria on "the territory under UN protection" and in other subjects of Russian federation;

· On "the territory under UN protection" all bodies of state power of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and local administration cease their activity, and that all parties and unions be disbanded. The UN institute an administration for "the territory under UN protection", with complete transfer of power to it. The Administration for "the territory under UN protection" take all necessary measures to find and apprehend the persons representing both sides of the conflict who are guilty of:terrorism; crimes against humanity;war crimes; acts, leading to mass casualties among peaceful population to be subsequently turned over to the International Court. The UN create conditions for the revival of economic, humanitarian, and cultural infrastructures on "the territory under UN protection", for the purpose of which an international fund be instituted to accumulate the means for the revival of Chechnya;

· Create an international free economic zone for enterprises, companies, and banks investing in the reconstruction of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. After the restoration of economic, industrial, social, and cultural infrastructures and democracy, the Administration for "the territory under UN protection" lift the ban on activity of political and public organizations and hold an internationally supervised referendum on Chechnya's status. If, following the referendum, the population of "the territory under UN protection" favors: - joining the Russian Federation as its government, the Administration for "the territory under UN protection" take necessary steps to create the bodies of power, matching the status determined by the referendum, and re-integrate "the territory under UN protection" with the Russian Federation. After which the UN dismantle all Administration bodies and hand over "the territory under UN protection" to Russia's jurisdiction; - independence and creation of a sovereign state, the Administration for "the territory under UN protection" take necessary steps to create bodies of power of an independent, democratic state, subject to international law, for its admission in the UN, and subsequent lifting of UN protection. The UN take on the obligation to resolutely put down all attempts, coming from any side, to exert pressure on the outcome of the referendum, or change its results by force.

· The Caucasian Peace Initiative, being the author of this draft of "The plan of peaceful settlement of the Russian-Chechen conflict" wants to take part in its implementation in all its stages, if it is passed. It is also ready to actively participate in the implementation of projects of peaceful settlement of all conflicts in the Caucasus.

Contact :
The Glasnost Foundation
Krimsky val 8
117049 Moscow Russia
tel/fax: +7 (095) 299 85 38
E-mails: fondglas@online.ru and iccrussia@yahoo.com
www.glasnostonline.org

INDEPENDENT INFORMATION CENTRE GLASNOST CAUCASUS DAILY NEWS SERVICE
March 11, 2001