Britain Urges Russia to End Chechen War through Negotiations

Britain's Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has appealed to Moscow to find a peaceful solution to the Chechen crisis through negotiations, following the transfer of power from Boris Yeltsin to Vladimir Putin. Cook made the appeal during a telephone call with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, emphasizing that a negotiated end to the war is crucial for a stable outcome. Putin's ascension to the presidency has created an opportunity for a shift in the Russian government's approach to the conflict, and Cook sees this as a chance to pursue a peaceful resolution.

Key Takeaways:

• Britain has urged Russia to end the Chechen war through negotiations, citing the need for a peaceful solution.
• Foreign Secretary Robin Cook spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov via telephone, emphasizing the importance of a negotiated end to the conflict.
• Cook believes that the change in leadership in Russia, with Vladimir Putin taking over from Boris Yeltsin, presents an opportunity for a shift in the Russian government's approach to the war.
• Ivanov assured Cook that there would be continuity in Russian foreign policy and no shift from the strategic direction set by Yeltsin, which includes strategic engagement with the outside world.
• The British government has been urging Russia to pursue a peaceful settlement in Chechnya, which would lead to a stable outcome.

Statistics:

• The Chechen war has been ongoing for [no specific timeframe mentioned in the source].
• Vladimir Putin became acting president of Russia on [no specific date mentioned in the source].
• Boris Yeltsin announced his resignation on New Year's Eve, taking effect on [no specific date mentioned in the source].
• The call between Cook and Ivanov took place on Friday [no specific date mentioned in the source].

Sources:

• BBC radio (exact quote from the original text)
• XINHUA (report on British foreign secretary's comments)

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