Speaker of Chechen parliament and Zakaev decide to hold World Congress of Chechens

By the outcomes of today's meeting in London of Dukvakhi Abdurakhmanov, chairman of the parliament of the Chechen Republic, with Ahmed Zakaev, leader of the government of non-recognized Ichkeria in exile, it was decided to hold the World Congress of the Chechen Nation.

As stated by Mr Abdurakhmanov, the today's talks with Zakaev were attended by a number of other persons, living in different western countries. The participants have agreed that the World Congress of the Chechen Nation "will contribute to further unification of the nation and consolidation of the Chechen society, irrespective of the residence of future participants of the congress."

Making comments on the outcomes of the meeting with Zakaev, Mr Abdurakhmanov has emphasized that now the Chechen Republic "is successfully solving the problems of economic development and social sphere; the problems born in early 1990s have long been inexistent."

The "Interfax" quotes the speaker: "The people have adopted their Constitution, and the republic is an inseparable and integral part of the Russian Federation. We outgo from all this, when discussing any questions."

Ahmed Zakaev, who agreed to participate in the World Congress of the Chechen Nation, has stated that the Congress can take place before the end of this year. The "Echo Moskvy" notes that the place of the event is still unknown; there is also no clarity as to its future participants.