PRESS RELEASE

18 November 1999

Istanbul (18 November 1999) - President Boris Yeltsin, in his opening statement at the Organization for Security and Cooperation Summit, reacted aggressively to the almost universal condemnation of Russia's military intervention in Chechnya. President Yeltsin said that the West had "no right" to criticize Russia's actions in Chechnya, comparing Russia's "fight against terrorism" to NATO's intervention in Kosovo.

In their opening addresses, OSCE member states repeatedly urged Russia to end the Chechen crisis peacefully and through the good offices of the OSCE, the UN and the European Union. German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, encouraging the Russians to use political means, said "war is not way to eliminate terrorism". Speaking next, President Clinton recognized Russia's right to defend its territorial integrity but warned that "the extremism Russia is trying to combat will only intensify" is attacks on civilians continue.

French President Jacques Chirac went further, labeling the Chechen offensive "a tragic error for the whole of the region."

Yeltsin closed his speech with an announcement that the Russian delegation would depart after the end of the first day, even though several documents are scheduled for signing through Friday. The signing of the new European Security Charter for the 21st Century was also postponed until Friday morning.

Russian defensiveness at the Summit demonstrated the long-term political consequences of NATO's bombing campaign in Kosovo earlier this year. For the first time, NATO's actions were used as justification for a conflict that the Alliance is now working to stop.

Analyst Julianne Smith, speaking at the Istanbul summit, said, "NATO didn't fully weigh the consequences of its actions when it took on its first out-of-area mission. Now NATO's going to have to find a way to break down the double standard of intervention that it created."

Back to European Security OSCE page

Back to European Security Home Page