Is Journalism Worth Dying For__ Final Dispatches - Anna Politkovskaya [29]
Baroness Ludford presided, firmly and constructively. The aim of the meeting was to finalise a joint statement, the London Memorandum: “The Road to Peace and Stability in Chechnya.” Thanks to the superhuman efforts of the Baroness, it did eventually materialise. The main reason why the London Memorandum was adopted in English is because this was the Baroness’s native tongue and there was no time left to translate it. It was accordingly in the English language that the London Memorandum became part of the history of the Russo-Chechen War of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Incidentally, as regards the Russo-Chechen nature of what is going on in the North Caucasus, and the complicated and paradoxical climate of the London meetings, the Mothers spent an inordinate amount of time attempting to lower the emotional charge of the Memorandum’s language. They wanted to make sure that nobody officially labelled the war “Russo-Chechen,” but only, blandly and inoffensively, “this conflict,” in accordance with the Kremlin’s official position to characterise it as an “internal armed conflict.” The fact that the Memorandum will go down in history in a foreign language itself demonstrates that the conflict amounts to something more than an internal matter.
Queen Anne’s Gate closed at 1400 hours Greenwich Mean Time on February 25, 2005. The greatest positive result was that a meeting had at least taken place. For the time being, that is all. The Mothers saw that the other side are not devils with horns, don’t bite, are entirely reasonable and moderate. If on the 24th everything had got off to a nervous, edgy start, it concluded on the 25th with a joint photograph, although even that took some organising. It is to be hoped that these new insights will be taken back with them to the Kremlin. And then? Who knows?
Finally, who was paying for all this? People in Russia traditionally take an interest in that aspect whenever anything is happening in London. Was, perhaps, Berezovsky paying for this junket? Well, this time you can be reassured. I checked. All costs were paid by the European Parliament. The Mothers even handed its representatives their air tickets as proof of expenses. For that we owe the European Parliament a big thank-you, for saving us from damaging rumors.
The text of the proposals of the Chechen side, presented to the Soldiers’ Mothers, was:
Step 1. Ceasefire and fight against terror. The opposing sides, via special representatives, create a mechanism for an immediate ceasefire without preconditions. The Chechen side is ready to co-operate in combating terrorism, both within the framework of bilateral relations and as a part of the international coalition to fight terrorism.
Step 2. Demilitarisation. After an armistice is reached, the removal of Russian troops from the Chechen Republic and the disarmament of the National Militia take place simultaneously. The functions of providing safety are transferred to a temporary peacemaking contingent in connection with this.
Step 3. Transition period. During the period between the ceasefire and elections, the state functions are assumed by a temporary coalition government, created under international control. In questions of providing safety the Provisional Government relies on the peacemaking contingent. (The “Kosovo” option – AP) The legal basis for the creation and working of the temporary coalition government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria is the agreement of 12 May 1997. (“Agreement on Peace and Principles of Mutual Relations between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria,” concluded in accordance with the Constitutions of the RF and ChRI. – AP)
Step 4. Elections. Based on the Agreement of May 12, 1997, the Provisional Government prepares and organises direct democratic elections with participation of all political forces of the Chechen