KULIKOV: SEARCH CHECHEN FOR PEACE BEGAN IN FEBRUARY.

Newinterior minister Anatoly Kulikov told Moskovsky komsomoletsJuly 14 that Moscow had made its first efforts to talk tothe Chechens in February, and that the Chechens had themselvessought contacts in early June, even before Budennovsk. He saidthat Moscow wanted to find peace now before Chechen presidentDzhokhar Dudayev lost all control over his forces, a situationthat could trigger more terrorism. Kulikov, who serves as oneof Moscow’s negotiators, said that Russia was prepared to buyup Chechen weapons.

Russian Police Identify More Budennovsk Attackers.