12:57, 19 May 2004

Only economic growth can stop war in Chechnya, former Maskhadov's envoy says

"Interests of Chechnya can't conflict with interests of Russia. True patriots, whom Chechnya needs now, can't reason otherwise," said Salambek Maigov, a former envoy of Aslan Maskhadov and present head of the foundation for economic cooperation Gromos (Grozny-Moscow).

Mr Maigov holds Chechnya's main problem is the incompleteness of two interrelated processes: hostilities and economic reconstruction. "The armed resistance movement in Chechnya hasn't been suppressed. And the fact that young men join it now as before shows there are no economic conditions for peaceful life. The young men simply don't see prospects of peaceful life, it means workplaces for them haven't been created," he said. The crisis cannot be resolved by means of threats, according to him. The only way out is to realize the reasons for was can be only far-fetched.

Salambek Maigov did not rule out the possibility of his participation in the Chechen presidential race.

Commenting on his severance from Maskhadov, Mr Maigov explained they disagreed on important issues.

Source: Rosbalt News Agency