ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 29, 1997 TAG: 9701290032
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: GROZNY, RUSSIA
SOURCE: Associated Press
The Chechen military commander who negotiated a triumphant peace with Russia emerged the winner Tuesday in the republic's presidential election. While asserting Chechen independence, he acknowledged he still must convince the rest of the world of it.
Aslan Maskhadov's insistence that Chechnya already has won its freedom is all but certain to bring confrontations with Russia. But Russia is unlikely to renew its disastrous war against Chechen separatists, and Maskhadov stressed he is willing to negotiate the highly charged issue of his republic's ultimate political status.
Moscow says it will not tolerate secession, and President Boris Yeltsin made clear Tuesday that Chechnya must remain part of Russia.
After a 20-month guerrilla war that led to the humiliating withdrawal of Russian troops, Chechens clearly believe they are in a strong negotiating position. But Moscow is certain to place political, diplomatic and economic pressure on Chechnya, which can expect a struggle to win recognition from the international community.
``If the Russians finally realize that they've tried every single method and that the only thing that's left is direct talks, then we are prepared for this,'' Maskhadov told reporters at his campaign headquarters in Grozny, the capital.
``I will try to compromise, but only within reasonable limits,'' said Maskhadov.
In a 16-man presidential race, Maskhadov won 65 percent of the vote with almost all of the ballots counted, his chief of staff said. Unofficial results showed the closest challenger, fellow rebel fighter Shamil Basayev, with less than 30 percent of the vote.
Official results were expected this week.
Maskhadov welcomed his rivals into his administration. Basayev, whom Moscow considers a terrorist for his 1995 hostage-taking in a southern Russian town, was not planning to take a government post, an aide said.
Maskhadov, a former Soviet army officer and separatist military chief in the war, also said he wants to make Chechnya an Islamic state and plans to demand war compensation from Russia.
The Russians pulled their last troops from Chechnya less than a month ago, and there is little they can do now to control internal affairs in the southern territory. Chechen separatists have been running the republic since a peace deal negotiated by Maskhadov ended the war in August but postponed a decision on its political status for five years.
In Moscow, Yeltsin stood firm against Chechen independence.
Presidential spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky said the outcome provides hope for productive negotiations ``in determining the status of the Chechen Republic within the Russian federation.''
Russian officials and politicians, including the opposition Communist Party, also voiced hope for a constructive dialogue with Maskhadov. Most described him as a realistic politician who understands Moscow's concerns, knows that Chechnya cannot survive on its own and would not really push for independence any time soon.
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by AP.by CNB