Chechen Dispute - I. Karimov's position

[inform]

Uzbek President: 'Settle Chechen Dispute Without Further Pain'
by Stefan Bos
Budapest
29 Oct 2002, 14:41 UTC


The Uzbek president says he understands the desire for independence felt by many people in Chechnya. But he says it is not likely that Russian troops will leave Chechnya, and so, he says, Russian and Chechen leaders should work toward a political solution.

President Karimov said the main goal should be to settle the Chechen dispute without further pain. He said Chechnya should have the same rights as other regions of Russia. If not there will be no stability in Chechnya, he said.

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=9C29E31C-1C24-41E6-877B3BA06DAA2AB5&title=Uzbek%20President%3A%20%27S ettle%20Chechen%20Dispute%20Without%20Further%20Pa in%27&catOID=45C9C78C-88AD-11D4-A57200A0CC5EE46C&categoryname=Europe

[-JUST-]

fragment from the original article:

Still, the Uzbek leader says Chechnya can not expect to split from Russia, as former Soviet republics like Uzbekistan and Georgia did in 1991.

President Karimov said these are two different situations because Uzbekistan and the other former Soviet republics were never actually part of Russia, as Chechnya is.

With all due respect, "Uzbekistan and the other former Soviet republics were never actually part of Russia, as Chechnya is" is a gross mis-statement by President Karimov(i guess no one is perfect)

Whether this statement of the President was deliberate or due to unawareness I'll let you judge.

Chechnya is an independent republic located in the middle of the Caucasus Mountains. This land has always been populated by ancient Shemite people, descendants of Shem, who have been invaded, throughout the centuries, by people of different races. The neighboring republics (to the north, south, east, and west) are very similar ethnically to Chechnya. These people living in the Caucasus Mountains are not the same as the Russian people. During Russia's quest for national expansion, Russia desired the lands in the Caucasus region and fought against and conquered the people in the mountainous areas. These people fought back for their independence and freedom. Unfortunately, mother Russia was too strong and she conquered and controlled these people. During World War II, the Chechens and other peoples in neighboring territories collaborated with the invading German Army AGAINST the Russians. They did this not because they favored the Germans, so much as they hated the Russians and wanted to be free of Russian dominion. As a consequence, Joseph Stalin (the head of the Russian state) dissolved the republic and sent the Chechens and people from neighboring republics to exile in deep Siberia (forced labor camps) where many were inhumanely killed. As time passes, eventually during the mid-50s, Russia restores these people back to their homelands. So great is the hatred and memories of what the Russians had done to the Chechens that when Russia and Communism finally collapsed the people of Chechnya like many other republics joyfully declared their independence from ethnic Russia. The rest of this story you know, as you have recently read (much of the news printed and broadcasted) or heard about through media sources...newspapers, magazines, radio, and television.

Chechnya never was part of Russia just as Uzbekistan never was part of Russian , to put it the way Mr Karimov said. Chechnya deserves to be independent just as much as Uzbekistan does.

For a brief timeline of Chechen history go to:http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/chechnya/timeline.html

Peace,
JUST