OSCE GROUP TO END WORK IN CHECHNYA.

On December 21, Interfax reported that the mandate of the Assistance Group to Chechnya of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will expire on December 31, 2002. This decision was taken “at the initiative of Russia” during meetings held at OSCE headquarters in Vienna. “Up until now, the mandate of the Assistance Group in Chechnya did not have an end-point.” The recent decision of the OSCE to terminate its missions in Estonia and Latvia was reportedly a factor behind Russia’s decision to stipulate an end-point for the OSCE group’s work in Chechnya.