NEGOTIATIONS DON’T MEAN CAPITULATION.

In an interview published in the September 18 issue of Novye Izvestia, former U.S. national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski maintained: “It is commonly recognized that a peaceful regulation of the conflict in Chechnya would be in the interests of all involved parties and especially of the Chechen and Russian peoples. This does not mean that one or another of the sides must capitulate. It simply follows to recognize the fact that complex historical and political problems are best resolved by means of negotiations…. Recent informal discussions in Russia show that a number of people are now striving to work out a ‘peace plan’ for resolving the Russo-Chechen conflict. In addition, concrete efforts are being undertaken in Washington and, in particular, by the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya, in whose work I am a participant” (translated from the Russian original).