RESOLUTION of the World Chechen Congress Copenhagen 2002
for a peaceful solution to the Russian-Chechen conflict

October 28-29, 2002

We, the delegates of the World Chechen Congress, look upon the tragic situation in our homeland with pain in our hearts. 250.000 tombstones have been raised on the Chechen graveyards during the first and the second Russian-Chechen war. Tens of thousands of children have lost their parents and have been crippled.

Thousands of our innocent citizens are missing, others have disappeared behind the walls of Russian filtration camps, where they are exposed to torture and humiliation. In spite of the unbearable atmosphere surrounding Chechnya and the Chechens caused by the current Russian leadership, the firmness and resoluteness of our people have not been broken.

We, the delegates of the World Chechen Congress, who represent a broad spectrum of the Chechen society and its variety of views on the present time and the future of the people, declare, that the aim of the Chechen people (as a part of the European civilization) is to build a modern society based upon universal democratic and humanitarian values in connection with the Chechen people's national and religious traditions and with respect of human rights, irrespective of nationality and religious belief. The Chechen Republic can and must become a worthy participant of the international community of civilized states.

The Congress bases its view upon the fact, that the Chechen people as well as the Russian people need peace, not war. All countries, except Russia, and all international organizations emphasize, that the Russian-Chechen contradictions can be solved only through political means. An armed solution to this conflict does not exist.

The Congress expresses the view, that the legal basis of the peace process must be commonly accepted norms and principles of international law.

The Congress expresses the view, that the counterparts of the conflict must show good will and as soon as possible start the necessary political dialogue based upon the May 12, 1997 Agreement on peace and the principles of mutual relations. The congress appeals to the Russian leadership to prove its will to move towards peace and thereby prove also its political wisdom. The Congress is of the opinion, that a dialogue is necessary between the highest political leadership of the warring parties.

The Congress expresses the view, that a change in the leadership of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria is possible only if it occurs on the basis of the free expression of the will of the Chechen people, which is incompatible with the presence of Russian troops on Chechen land.

The Congress states, that international organizations should play a special role in the process of ending the war and establishing peace. They should not only play the role of mediators but also guarantee, that the obligations assumed by the counterparts are observed. Their energetic activity is necessary in order to enforce peace.

The Congress is of the opinion, that it is necessary to recommend the peace plan proposed by professor Ruslan Khasbulatov to the warring parties as a compromise basis for beginning negotiations.

The Congress addresses the broad Russian public expressing its will and striving for a lasting and peaceful coexistence based upon equality, mutual respect and good neighbourhood. We appeal to the peoples of Russia to stand up strongly in order to put an end to the war and establish peace in Chechnya.

The Congress with regret takes into account the strong passivity of the European political circles with regard to the cruel war which Russia is waging in Chechnya. There is an insufficient understanding of and information about the events in the Russian-Chechen conflict. This promotes the silence about the war crimes committed by the Russian troops and special services, creates an atmosphere of impunity of guilty persons, thereby allowing Russia to protract the conflict artificially and manipulate public opinion towards a silent acceptance of the war and the acts of violence.

The Congress understands and takes into account the efforts made by the USA and the international community in the struggle against international terrorism and at the same time we condemn the attempts made by some governments to exploit the anti-terrorist campaign to hide the oppression of ethnic minorities. The Congress declares, that it is unacceptable to use terrorist methods to obtain political goals, no matter whether they are committed by groups or by states. We base our view upon the fact, that terrorism is incompatible with the culture and goals of the Chechen people and with the methods of the Chechen resistance.

The Congress appeals to the member states of the EU and other countries of the world to give temporary aid to the Chechen refugees and to treat them as war refugees, victims of genocide and ethnic cleansings. There is no doubt, that the overwhelming majority of the Chechen refugees will return to their homeland when the war has ended.

The Congress expresses the view, that it is necessary to resume the work on establishing an international non-governmental tribunal on war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the Chechen republic during the last decade.

The Congress is worried about a tendency, that has developed after January 2001 in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (the PACE), and as a consequence of the American tragedy, to substitute concrete steps to defend human rights in Chechnya with political manipulations in the framework of the Joint Working Group between the Duma and the PACE. The congress is convinced, that these actions have led to a protraction of the conflict and are misleading the international and European public opinion. We request the abolition of this artificial group.

The World Chechen Congress is of the opinion, that it is necessary to investigate the fate of the President of the Chechen parliament Ruslan Alikhadzhiev who was retained in April 2000 by the Russian special forces.

Professor Mohammad Shishani
Chairman of the World Chechen Congress in Copenhagen
October 28-29, 2002