US interference irks Yeltsin

MOSCOW, AUG 20: President Boris Yeltsin said today he was concerned by increased US influence in the Caucasus, a region he said was of cruc...

MOSCOW, AUG 20: President Boris Yeltsin said today he was concerned by increased US influence in the Caucasus, a region he said was of crucial strategic value to Russia.

8220;Already the United States is declaring that the Caucasus is in their zone of interest. Our interest is weakening but the Americans, on the contrary, are beginning to penetrate this zone and, without reservation, declare this,8221; Yeltsin said during a session of Russia8217;s security council.

8220;A settlement for the region must respond to the interests of our national security, we have a right to count on understanding on this point from the international community, and this is the task of Russia8217;s foreign ministry,8221; Yeltsin said in remarks later carried on national television.

Yeltsin8217;s statement becomes significant soon after his meeting with Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov.

The two leaders had agreed to form a joint working group but Russia firmly ruled out independence for Chechnya, simply saying that it would remain part of the Russian federation.

Yeltsin, who held talks with Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov in the Kremlin, told reporters later that the treaty to be drafted by a special task force would 8220;somewhat raise the level of sovereignty of the Chechen republic.8221;

8220;We must not set against continuing further steps with regard to the freedom of Chechen republic,8221; Russian news agency RIA quoted Yeltsin as saying.

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8220;I am ready to take these steps,8221; he said after a short meeting with Maskhadov in the Kremlin, adding that 8220;in near future there will be a joint working group to prepare an agreement.8221;

However, Yeltsin stopped short of promising outright independence to Chechnya. Russia and Chechnya will have a single economic, defence and air space, he noted.

The meeting between Yeltsin and Maskhadov in the Kremlin was the first since the signing of a peace agreement between Russia and Chechnya earlier this year. Economic assistance to the war-ravaged Chechnya, republic8217;s political status and hostage issue were high on the agenda.

Maskhadov has publicly been taking a tough position in his negotiations with the Russian leaders. Earlier, on his arrival in Moscow, he said he expected a frank discussion with Russian President.