The members of the Group told the journalists that the principal item of their activity would be assertion of the Chechen people's right on self-determination and State system organization.
Presentation of the “Chechen” Parliamentary Group in Georgia 23 December, Thursday, an official presentation of the standing parliament group in support of the Chechen republic Ichkeria was held in office block of the Georgian Parliament. The members of the Group told the journalists that the principal item of their activity would be assertion of the Chechen people's right on self-determination and State system organization. The Chechen party estimated the action of the Georgian parliamentarians at its true worth. The day before the presentation of the Parliamentary Group, the head of the Committee of Foreign Relations of the Parliament of CRI addressed a special salutatory statement to the Georgian colleagues on behalf of the Parliament of CRI. “The Parliament of the Chechen republic Ichkeria welcomes the establishment of the special group within the Georgian Parliament to provide support to the Chechen Republic Ichkeria. The similar group is to be formed in the Parliament of Chechnya to cooperate with the Georgian side. Our nations are historically sealed with the ties of friendship and remain such in contrast to any provocations aimed at their separation. The Chechen people friendly supported the Georgian President in his fight for independence of Georgia … We believe in victory, and Chechen people do everything to gain it. Our position is strictly adjusted and is guided by the international law, despite all labels stuck by Moscow on the just struggle of the Chechen people against the occupation of our native land… Not far off is the time when the hordes of Russian invaders leave the territory of Chechnya . Soon Georgia will be free from the pretensions of the Kremlin. Our fate is on our hands. Good luck, dear friends!” The Assembly for Protection of Sovereignty of the Chechen Republic Ichkeria (APSCRI) has also provided an active support to the initiative of the Georgian Parliament – “…Today Georgia and Chechnya continue the common cause of Gamsakhurdia and Dudayev, and stand against the common enemy in the person of reactionary forces, purposing their common object – liberation from the yoke of Russian imperialism. This undoubtedly will further the strengthening of ties and cooperation of our parliamentarians. We have to be together, hand in hand! We should not allow a single occupation base, a single Russian soldier to remain in the long-suffering Caucasus . Our presidents were undefeated heading toward the sacred aim, defending freedom of our common Fatherland – the Caucasus . Their fate is enviable, and their names will find immortality”. The Russian side has reacted, though preferred to limit themselves with the customary falsehood and lies instead of giving their well-reasoned opinion. However, following the presentation of the Parliamentary Group in support of the CRI, the Russian Foreign Ministry or State Duma, undoubtedly will snarl at Georgia through some obscure threatening protest. To the Georgian parliamentarians credit be it said, the presentation has showed that they do not refuse from any paragraph stated earlier. Moreover, they are going to initiate a claim for Chechnya to the State Duma of Russia in the nearest future, offering their mediatorial services. The moratorium on extradition of the Chechens to Russia remains to be one of the number one problems for the parliamentary group. This sore point is especially urgent, as firsthand information was received the day before the presentation that Georgian authorities are considering the question of next extradition of the undisclosed citizens of CRI to Russia. The international reaction on the initiative of the Georgian parliamentarians gives hope that the group effectively will carry out the activities. This opinion is strengthened with the fact that favorable reports with the suggestions to cooperate with the Georgian parliamentarians were received from France , Lithuania , Estonia , Latvia , Tatarstan. Along with the Georgian parliamentarians the invited representatives of human rights and public and political organizations, as well as journalists and representatives of the Chechen Diaspora were among the guests at the presentation ceremony. The head of the Vainakh Department of the Centre for Cultural Relations - “Caucasian House” told the journalists that the decision of the Georgian parliamentarians is urgent and timely - “ Georgia will be a State in case it works out the state Caucasian policy. First of all, Georgia should arrange its affairs with the neighbors. Only after that the country will be able to integrate and take part in global projects. It is clear that first the affairs should be arranged with the Chechen Republic Ichkeria”. The Georgian parliamentarians have provided support to the discredited Chechens sentenced to death by the international community. This step taken against the background of separate reckless actions on the part of the executive power of Georgia and some Georgian politicians, undoubtedly, will have a favorable influence on the mutual relation of two nations. One of the initiators of the Group Koba Davitashvili said at the presentation: “The Group is formed of ten representatives of two factions. The number of the members will increase. We will maintain close contact with all factions. We also intend to initiate talks between Chechnya and Russia . If Russia can initiate the talks in Abkhazia, why are we forbidden to do the same concerning Chechnya ?” Correspondent: What's common and what's different to make comparison between Chechnya and Abkhazia? Koba Davitashvili: “Common is the factor of Russia . As to the difference, it should be admitted that Abkhazia, fighting for independence, has fallen under dependence of Russia . Of course, this means no independence, while Chechnya , the Chechen people are really striving for independence”. The representatives of the Chechen Diaspora expressed their hope that Milly Mejlis of Azerbaijan will follow the example of their Georgian colleagues. As is known, there are many Chechen refugees on Azerbaijan , where common interests of the Caucasus are also concentrated. Data Tutashkhia, Tiflis Kavkaz-Centre Source: http://chechenpress.co.uk/english/news/2004/12/31/01.shtml