YASTRZHEMBSKY: I have several pieces of news, in addition to operational information, which I'm sure will provoke great interest in Russia and abroad.


According to our information, in early May Maskhadov sent a letter, via couriers and the separatists' office at the Taliban government, asking the latter to speedily send a large group of mercenaries to Chechnya. He wanted 70-100 fighters. The possible route of their movement to Chechnya lay via Azerbaijan. He meant those who were trained in the camps outside Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz.


The other day we received even more detailed information. A meeting was held in Mazar-i-Sharif, controlled by the Taliban, about a week ago; bin Laden, prominent Uzbek terrorist Namangani and Maskhadov's representatives attended it. A certain Holemi, whose task in the Taliban government is to work with Northern Afghan territories, was also present. They signed a protocol on cooperation between bin Laden, Holemi and Maskhadov's representatives in providing assistance to the Chechen fighters, meaning weapons, munitions and men.


We also have additional information to the effect that a new bandit training camp has been created in Saidabad, outside Mazar-i-Sharif, where Chechens, Uzbeks and Tajiks, as well as citizens of Arab countries, study.


Now I want to make several refutations. It was reported in the morning today that the Russian aviation allegedly prevented the movement of a large convoy with weapons for the fighters from the territory of Georgia. I cannot reaffirm this information. Indeed, in the past 24 hours the federal aviation bombed a convoy of some 10-12 KamAZ trucks outside Karo-Argun. The trucks were destroyed. But we did not wage any battles involving aviation in the regional adjacent to Georgia.


Likewise, I cannot reaffirm the report about the alleged death of terrorist Shamil Basayev. According to information available to me, this is a canard.


A few more operational reports and then I will go over to the main subject.


Information from the Interior Ministry: 23 operational and preventive actions were taken in the past 24 hours, which resulted in the detention of one bandit. And here is interesting information: it was reported on April 10 that five men were killed and three wounded in the Azerbaijani ethnic cultural society Berlik in Irkutsk. The Interior Ministry detained a certain Atagayev, born 1971, an unemployed resident of Chechnya, who is suspected of committing that crime.


Now I will provide the details on the detention of Zainutdinov and others, who took part in the terrorist acts and fought on the side of the illegal armed formations. I want to remind you that Isa Zainutdinov was put on the federal and international wanted list for complicity in the terrorist act in Buinaksk on September 4 last year. The operational and search measures taken by the Daghestani Interior Ministry established that a meeting of Wahhabis, one of them a man who looks like Zainutdinov, was to be held in Kazbekov Street in Makhachkala.


The ministry staff held a special operation, detaining nine persons. One of them was Zainutdinov, who had a passport in the name of Akhmed Akhmedovich Magomedov, but with his own, Zainutdinov's, photograph. The ministry staff also detained Ruslan Saipullayev, born 1973, who is believed to have spent five years in Afghanistan and Pakistan and was a military instructor of the illegal armed groups. Another detainee was Timur Talkanov, one of the most zealous adepts of Wahhabism in Daghestan who took part in fighting on the territory of Chechnya. His brother Kazbek died outside Kara-Makhi. The other six men are suspected, with good reason, of taking part in different terrorist acts as members of bandit groups.


Information from the office of the representative of the Russian government in Chechnya: A conference was held with representatives and leaders of the Chechen law enforcement agencies and the staff of the fuel and energy complex. The subject on the agenda was the struggle with the theft of oil and oil products in the republic. Nikolai Koshman pointed out that oil was still stolen from the wells in the Staropromyslovsky and Oktyabrksy districts of Grozny and in other districts of the republic. He demanded that these crimes be stopped, because oil is the main, and possibly the only, wealth of the republic and the speed and scale of restoration largely depends on oil sales.


It was decided to take certain organisational and technical measures to cut short this oil banditry. In particular, the district commandants shall establish strict control over the oil routes, including in neighbouring Ingushetia and Daghestan. Naturally enough, the authorities of these republics will help. The sale of the illegally produced oil products in Chechnya will be prohibited, and a network of state filling stations will be opened to provide fuel and lubricants to local car owners.


One more information: We have learned about a recent telephone conversation between Maskhadov and Lord Russell-Johnston, PACE Chairman. The very fact of that conversation, as well as its contents, make us seriously think and conclude that secret talks are being held behind Russia's back with a view to coordinating a stand that would force Russia to stop its counter-terrorist operation in Chechnya. In point of fact, this amounts to veiled assistance for the separatist leader, Maskhadov, who is responsible for the kidnapping of people and the death of dozens of hostages, including foreign nationals, in particular Britons.


Now for the contents of that conversation. Maskhadov began by expressing his gratitude personally to Lord Russell-Johnston and PACE members for their resolute resistance to the Russian stand. They mentioned certain correspondence between Maskhadov and the PACE chairman. Next Maskhadov invited the good lord to visit Chechnya and meet with its president, quote "at least for two hours." And here is a highly indicative quotation, which I would recommend be hung, with proper reference to Maskhadov, in some Western news agencies, which so frequently quote the Kavkaz Centre in Moscow. Well, here it is: "I would like to tell you that any information, other than that officially provided by the Foreign Ministry of Chechnya and the Chechen Press agency, shall be regarded as a provocation, including information of the Kavkaz Centre." Mind you, it was not Yastrzhembsky or Manilov, but Maskhadov himself who said these words.


The lord was happy with the terrorist and separatist leader's evaluation of the scandalous PACE decision. "I am grateful to you for what you said about the PACE," he said. "I think it would be correct to say that the assembly speaks up more openly than any other international organisation." And here is an interesting phrase. Notice the accents, which show that the lord wants to hold talks with Maskhadov and provide assistance to him, yet has to negotiate with Russia: "We advocated a truce and political talks, with your direct participation, from the very beginning. We were prepared to continue rendering whatever assistance we could. In principle, I could personally come to Chechnya, but as you know very well, we are living under international pressure, and I will be forced also to negotiate with Russia."


Next the good lord gave recommendations to Maskhadov, in the style of political PR: "If you, on your part, could do something that could influence public opinion in Russia and international public opinion! You have several prisoners of war. If you could make a sign of good will and release them, this could be somehow connected with the meeting with me. This would mean that Russia got something, and then it could become possible [meaning the meeting]. But I cannot promise you anything, although I fully agree with you." At the end of the conversation, Maskhadov thanked Lord Russell, saying that he "would do everything possible to truly show, for our part, that we want to stop this war, that we respect international law." As if Maskhadov and his former regime have any relation to international law. In the end, the lord said: "I hope we will maintain contact. I have already said that I am personally prepared to help, but you yourself must make the decision on how you would do this. You must be the first to make it, and I am sure that you understand me."


I think that we, too, now understand better why, and on the basis of what, the PACE Assembly made that scandalous decision on excluding the Russian parliamentary delegation from its work.

Foreign Writers Condemn Russia over Chechnya

MOSCOW, May 24, 2000 -- (Reuters) Nobel Prize-winning author Guenter Grass and other writers on Tuesday condemned Moscow's eight-month military campaign in rebel Chechnya and warned against the erosion of democratic freedoms in Russia.

Addressing the annual congress of International Pen, which campaigns for authors' rights and freedom of expression, they said writers had a moral obligation to speak out against censorship, persecution and state-sponsored violence everywhere.

"We have to demand an end to the war against the Chechen people. And likewise an investigation, under UN auspices, of all war crimes committed by either side," said Grass, winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize for Literature.

He said the war was "without reason, without mercy". Moscow says it is fighting "international terrorists" in Chechnya and has ignored Western calls to halt the offensive and to begin peace talks with the separatist leaders.

Russia has vowed to probe allegations of human rights abuses but has refused to allow an independent UN investigation.

"(Literature) does not turn a blind eye, it does not forget, it does break the silence," Grass told several hundred delegates attending the first PEN congress to be held in Russia.

Grass, 72, is a veteran campaigner for left-wing causes and is best known for his epic 1959 novel about Germany's Nazi past, "The Tin Drum".

hurricane,

what will I say? I will say this:

MY FRIEND, learn how to answer all inquiries made to you and not just the ones your mind is capable to handle (i.e. place of birth, C++, etc.) I have raised many issues in my post and the best you can do is to pick on my guess on your place of origin? Very, very laughable, my friend, very much so.
Also(!), my friend, learn how to respond to other people posts addressed to you. Another words do not be selective. This way you will get at least some kind of credibility. Just to refresh your memory, I am posting someone else's post you never had guts to respond to:


By who ( - 205.188.197.156) on Sunday, May 21, 2000 - 11:53 am:
to hurricane:
Well, your thought in a rational direction. Russia isn't now in best stage, that,s why all the rats rais their heads, but on a way to recover. Mafia has a tendency to transform in a lowfull buisness, when its more profitable in a normal economical situation. The cleaning of drug smugglers and mafiozi is implementing now in Chechnia, all narconetworks coming from former east and south republics of Russia. As to prostitution-different matter:
Ussually when people not hungry,. or not lasy to work, they dont go on a street. Another aspect is a country morality. Muslim punish by death for that and womem there just a thing, Amsterdam has it in a legal stage, there women fully-fledged.
Russia historicaly had a good morality.

THAT'S WHAT I WILL SAY, MY FRIEND.

Top Russian leaders - including President Vladimir Putin, Mr Ivanov and Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev - are in the Belarusian capital Minsk for talks on security co-operation with several ex-Soviet states.

Tajikistan relies on Russian soldiers for border security

Former Soviet republics in Central Asia bordering Afghanistan are especially concerned about the possible spread of radical Islam - worries shared by Russia.

President Putin showed the importance he attached to the issue by making Central Asia his first trip after his inauguration.

Russian television reports have been quoting sources in the Tajik capital Dushanbe as saying there are several guerrilla training camps in Afghanistan not far from the Tajik border.

"Thousands of potential terrorists are training there under Taleban auspices," Russia TV said.

Tajikistan relies on Russian border guards to maintain security and stop smuggling on its southern borders.

DENIAL

On Tuesday, the Taleban rejected Russian charges that it was planning to send fighters and weapons to Chechnya.

The Taleban Foreign Ministry spokesman Faiz Ahmad Faiz told a news briefing that the allegations were baseless.

However, he said the Taleban would continue to give the Chechen rebels diplomatic support.

Mr Faiz added that there were no training camps in Afghanistan and no resources to support the Chechens.

speaking of..where is Faiz Khan? Now that is one and only muslim here that saw the light.

UPDATE

Moscow's top civilian official in Chechnya, Deputy Prime Minister Nikoali Koshman, escaped unscathed when his helicopter was fired on by Chechen guerrillas late Tuesday, Interfax reported.

The shooting came from a ravine in the southern Argun gorge, the press centre of the Russian cabinet's office in Chechnya told the news agency.

The rebels responsible for the attack were located in the area and killed by Russian forces.

The pilot managed to swerve out of harm's way and nobody on board was injured, it said.

Koshman was returning from the Itum-Kale district in the southern mountains. He was travelling as part of a government commission on the reconstruction of the separatist republic, destroyed after months of fighting

More Turkish Delights

---

Azeri women's rights champion calls for legalization of prostitution

'Zerkalo', Baku
20 May 2000

The head of an Azerbaijani women's rights organization, Novella Jafarova, has called for the legalization of prostitution in the country. She said that this would regulate prostitutes' status, making them less dependent on the underworld and less prone to sexually-transmitted diseases. The paper's commentator, however,
believes that this is an unphill struggle. Following are excerpts from a report by Azerbaijani newspaper 'Zerkalo' on 20th May entitled "Defender of women's rights suggest legalizing prostitution" by N. Majidova:

Subhead This measure is unlikely to be effective

In today's conditions of mass poverty, economic disarray and general chaos, the backstreet sex business is gradually becoming a serious
industry here. More and more people are being dragged into it.

It is slowly dawning on society that something should be done about this problem. But what? Novella Jafarova, head of the Dilara Aliyeva
Society for the Protection of Women's Rights, suggests the following:

Prostitution in the capital and districts of the republic has acquired such proportions over the last few years that it will hardly be possible to check it in the near future. One of the results is that we now have and increasing number of children with hereditary syphilis.

Even in the districts, where it has always been regarded as a disgrace, the new "business" - sale of the body - is making remarkable progress. Girls sell themselves for 5,000 manats one dollar. After 1800 or 1900 in the evening, you can see girls openly soliciting on the side of the road.

Pimps establish young girls in dens and take their passports, making it impossible for them to escape this vicious circle. These girls thus
fall into the hands of the criminal underworld. How disobedience is dealt with is illustrated by the case of a girl who is currently in a women's prison colony because the murder of a client was pinned on her, although she completely denies this.

In the very centre of Gyandzha, there is a sauna where 13 or 14-year-old girls are sold. We have called on the Prosecutor's Office and Interior Ministry to raid such places in Gyandzha and other
districts and see for themselves what is happening there.

Question What are the authorities in Gyandzha doing about this?

Answer Are there any authorities left in Gyandzha? Plants and factories are closed there and families are not economically protected. For many, selling themselves is the only source of
income. If the head of the Gyandzha executive authorities tried to create jobs and attract investors to the district, maybe his district
would not have sunk to such a low level.

We have visited the closed-type hospital No 34 in Ramana outside Baku several times, and spoken to many women there. Some of them first tried prostitution out of sheer curiosity, and then "sank" into it. Many of them have been traumatized - aggressive clients have left
bruises on them, and sometimes their savagery has resulted in serious injuries. There was a case when a mulatto bit the breast of a
25-year-old girl and she was taken to a local clinic covered in blood.

Girls who have been subjected to violence of this sort have revealed interesting details. They say that the most intelligent and educated clients turn out to be the most cynical, brutal, rude and perverse in bed. For this reason, many girls avoid such "decent" and educated
clients altogether.

Another girl, who had just recovered from her first unsuccessful relationship and had an abortion, found herself without any means -
her parents disavowed her and her lover no longer needed her. After being tempted by 1,000 dollars offered to her by a "decent" man, she agreed to spend a day with him at his dacha. When she arrived there she was met by a whole army of lascivious thugs, who gang-raped the
16-year-old girl. That night she had to serve 15 mature men against her will. The girl is now psychologically broken.

There are quite a few of boy prostitutes in our country. They say that they live mainly with foreigners. Their favourite hangouts are the
neighbourhood of the Azerbaijan Cinema, the Nizami metro station, the Apsheron and Baku Hotels, the Molokan gardens all in central Baku and others. One of them confessed that he charged 50,000 manats 11 dollars per night.

The worst thing is that their parents turn a blind eye to the fact that their daughters and sons bring suspicious "earnings" home. The
economic insolvency of many families in Azerbaijan sometimes makes parents "lose their eyesight". Although it is often the case that many
parents do not even suspect what their "diligent" student-children are doing.

Passage omitted: About the false stereotype of a prostitute among people

Q And what do you suggest?

A For the time being, none of the methods of struggle against this universal problem has yielded results, even though a sufficient amount
of energy and time has been wasted on it.

The experiences of many civilized countries have shown that there is no point in combating prostitution. We should fight for safe sex, which prevents the spread of syphilis, gonorrhoea, HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases.

We suggest that prositution be legalized and brothels be opened, instead of having to put up with backstreet dens which everyone is aware of - from regular clients to the law-enforcement agencies. Many of us condemn this. But in fact prostitution has not been legalized in our country!

When at two o'clock in the morning boys in women's clothes offer sexual services and those who have money buy them, is this not legalized prostitution? Policemen protect them, take bribes and set them free - is this not legalized prostitution?

Genuine legalization will enable us to exercise control over this. Medical examinations and safe sex will be compulsory. I believe that legalized brothels are better than what we have now, because then women would not be for sale. This would be their job, and if they changed their minds about it, they would be free to leave.

There would be no crime stories, as is the case with the dens at the moment. Today a girl who wants to leave a den either gets killed or
commits a crime and ends up in prison. Thus, the criminal underworld is acquiring new prostitutes only because they have made a mistake by
accident.

>From the editorial staff: We believe that it is necessary to comment on this suggestion, which has been put forward in the belief that
something - anything - should be done - if we do not eradicate the vice, we can at least place it under some kind of control.

But this method is also doubtful. Imagine the following: along with supermarkets, bakeries and kindergartens in the city, new "institutions" with the following signboards will appear: "Bureau of Good Services", a brothel called "Blue Fire", "Sweetheart" or something along these lines.

It is not difficult to predict how the majority of the population would react. But this is not the most important thing. Is there a prostitute who would allow herself to be branded as a prostitute and enter this legally-operating institution? Most prostitutes do not see
themsleves as prostitutes and they all have their own reasons for that.

If our brothels were brought into line with world standards, expenses for medical examinations, the purchase of condoms and various special
appliances would be included in the cost of the services on offer.

Who can afford to spend money on a prostitute? Drivers, engineers or servicemen? The most likely customers are top officials and businessmen. It is difficult to imagine that any of these people would dare knock on the door of such an "institution".

So, the most likely result of such a proposal would be that along with illegal prostitution (it would remain intact with all its accompanying
phenomena), we would have legal prostitution. And we would hardly be any better off for it.

24.05.2000 19:40
OVER 20 REBELS KILLED IN FEDERAL OPERATION IN CHECHNYA

---

More than 20 rebels and six motor vehicles were destroyed in the Sharoi-Argun Gorge in Chechnya during the course of a special operation conducted by the federal forces at around 2 p.m. Wednesday.


A reconnaissance group spotted a convoy of 13 trucks advancing toward the gorge on an alpine road from west to east, the Commander of the United Grouping of troops in the North Caucasus, Colonel General Gennady Troshev, has told the press. The Russian forces attacked the convoy. More than 20 rebels were killed, and a truck and five cars with rebels in them were destroyed.

To Dimitri

"MY FRIEND, learn how to answer all inquiries made to you and not just the ones your mind is capable to handle (i.e. place of birth, C++, etc.) I have raised many issues in my post and the best you can do is to pick on my guess on your place of origin? Very, very laughable, my friend, very much so. "

***************************************
I am sure, I know how to answer all inquiries, I answered your main inquiry. You thought that Mujahedeen are brain washed men, and I am in sympathy with them, because I was born there in Qoqaz. No, I was not, and you have to know that many muslims fighting with them are not from Qoqaz. Khatab himself, was born and raised in middle east.

I do not think the other inquiries need any attention because they are rotating around two funny terms, "TERRORISM" and "DRUG SMUGGLING". I do not think Basayev, khatab and Maskhadov have any relationship with Pablo Escobar. The real terrorist is a country which make some explosions in it own land to justify the invasion of another land !!!!!!!

You say I am selective in replying reports, yes, you are right, as some reports do not deserve to be read, not replied. Look at this guy who says to me "buy a new version of the bible in English. Easier to read and to understand. If you want to impress a roman catholic by oldish style religious lecture, come up with Latin!". At least , we muslims, read the Holy Bible, when we argue, and at least we have a reference about Christianity, I am sure that most of you who attack Islam and Quran do not have a translation for the meaning of the Quran.

You do not want us to put the name of Allah in any matter, and you think that Allah has nothing to do with this war. We think that every thing comes from Allah, and every thing happens under his will.

Dimi,

Check email;

Kim

To: hurricane

Ok then, lets talk about funny terms. What is TERRORISM? It is - the systematic use of unpredictable violence against governments, publics, or individuals to attain a political objective. Basayev - guilty. Khatab - guilty. Maskhadov - giuilty of being a help to those two. Also, I have noticed that you (very wisely, BTW) forgot to mention Bin Laden. If you going to say he is not terrorist then you might as well not respond to this. BTW, two out of four of those are on the Interpol "the Most Wanted" list. For acts of TERROR.
Do you find a term "drug smuggling" funny? Let me ask you this: do you also find funny that Aganistan is the LARGEST drug distributor (and maker) in the world??? Funny, huh? Please check your sources and tell me why you think that rebels don't trade dugs for money. And please provide some proof/links or anything other than just bald statements. Thank you.
Now..Checnya was granted independence in 1996. Chechnya had a real chance to be an independent state. Unfortunately Chechens had no idea what to do with their newly found independence. Majority of people in Chechnya including Basaev, Khattab and the rest of the gang mistook Russian generosity for weakness. For two years Russian government was overlooking countless kidnappings, oil pipeline tampering, countless number of minor incursion from the Chechen side. And the more Russia was overlooking these "minor" infringements the bolder Chechens became. I think the boldest move was the kidnapping of the Russian general Shpigun. I think that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
So first and foremost Chechens should thank Mashadov, Basaev and Khattab for the loss of their independence. Are you going to dispute the fact that Mashadov failed to control his goons?
If Chechnya gains its independence from Russia, that is something I don't personally oppose, it will be done trough political process and the power will be transferred to stable and democratic government that represents Chechen people.

P.S. Since you claim to have a good grasp on the knowledge of the "product" of your opponent (i.e. knowing Holy Bible and so forth), which I do not doubt, that would raise the question - how good is your geography knowledge? Uzbekistan, my friend, is located in Middle Asia and not in Caucasus. Just so you know.
Cheers.

The Hurricane

Thanks for this long post and it was quite interresting.
First of all I would like to say that in the time of Gallileo and Copernic the clergy was afraid to lose his power. The clergy was wrong and had better to support them instead. The political power of the roman catholic church was based on dogma for centuries. To oppose the dogma meant saying the clergy is wrong on some issue and therefore not legitimate to represent the total knowledge and exerce the power in the name of God.
I agree they were hence again science.
I will add that, like actualy islamists, this clergy was far from the principles of christianity which is suppose to be a religion of love and tollerance and sobriety. Nevertheless it's interresting to note that it's precisely at this time historicaly, that the scientific approach was re-invented or restablished if you prefer. It's precisely at this time, the western culture and science started to blossom.
In fact there is nothing against science in the Bible too. The first Testamant is full of scientific non-sens but christianity refer far more to the second.
Later on there has been some renown scientists who were monks or priests...And Leonardo daVinci, himself was living a few years in the Vatican.

You are a little bit talking like these neo-communists who say that Soviet Union is not the example. If islamic countries are far from the Quran? What is Islam then?
There must be a contradiction between Islam and islamism, as well as between christianity and persecution of pagans, as well as between communism and equal prosperity for all, as well as between
astronomy and astrology.

"...most of Islamic countries are uncivilized and not modernized too, but the reason for that is because they are far from Islam. All Islamic countries are thinking that western civilization can save them and help them to achieve progress in science and modernization, but it does not work!!!!! "

If it's so, why are we calling them islamists? Are they heretics? Should we call them anti-islam? I would like too. Tey are anti-west because they want to get what makes the west so powerful but at the same time the rule by the sharia. Normal it doesn't work. They are as materialistic as we are.
The billion of poeple praying Allah everyday and who would say yes to support Basayev and Kahtab and even Saddam Hussein or Khadafi, are they bad muslim to the extent they are far from the Quran?
Are the four or five Doctors and surgeons who converted to Islam representatives of what we call the muslim population?
BTW, you didn't post similar example of prominent figures converted to...buddhism. I'm sure there are plenty fo them.

"Civilization is like a bird, it must have two wings, spirit and matter, and both of them must get along. If matter overcome, our life will be so material and survival will only be for the fittest, and if spirit overcome, our life will be based on superstions and fables like Europe in middle ages."

You are right. West has came from the overpower of the spirit in Middle-Age to the overpower of the matter.

"The only civilization which achieved that balance is the islamic civilization. "

I wish it did.
The problem is that it's an exact balance of the bad side of religious power and the bad side of materialism. Unfortunately.

Vakha Kaiduriev is added to my beautiful list, however Isa and Khasan Yevloev are just little shoshki. Nobody gives krap about them, not even me.

Dimitri

"Nobody care if the plane is hijacked" On Hizbol'Air!

Yeah! all completely stoned. Hash in the air masks. Nobody cares of the gunmen ...