The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Issue 75 11.03.03 Actual News from Chechnya News update V. Kazantsev: Referendum on Chechnyas constitution is a key event that restores Russias rule of law in the republic Referendum on Chechnyas constitution is a key event in the restoration of Russias law in the republic. Russian Presidents envoy to the southern federal district Victor Kazantsev made this statement during his videoconference with the heads of republics and regions of the district on Wednesday. He noted that legal, social and economic base had been created to hold the referendum and this would follow the presidential election. Victor Kazantsev drew the attention of the heads of the regions on guaranteeing security when preparations were going on for holding the referendum and during voting. He urged the commanders of the Russian forces in the North Caucasus military district and heads of law enforcement bodies to heighten alert. more... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=Moseng) Chechen Interior Ministrys patrols replace block posts Speaking to Interfax news agency Chechen Interior Minister Ruslan Tskaev has said that the block posts of Russian forces and police from other regions will be replaced by local Chechen patrols and mobile traffic police groups. He said that patrols had been sent to the places where block posts were and they control the situation. Permanent traffic posts will be set up in the places where roads cross and most dangerous crossings. The vehicles will be detained or examined only when there is a need but not all. Minister said that some block post would remain on minor roads near the city so as to prevent possible movements of militants. (more... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=Moseng) Chechen history From conflict to stability Scientists sharing their views on ways to normalize the situation in Chechen republic Prominent Russian and foreign scientists have published a collection of articles looking at the Chechen conflict and suggesting ways to resolve it. The collection, called Chechnya: From Conflict to Stability, bases on the materials of the international scientific conference Chechnya: From Conflict to Accord that took place in Moscow in November 2000. The book was published by the Russian Academy of Sciences, the N.Miklukho-Maklai Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology and the Foundation for Humanitarian Assistance to Chechen republic. Opinions on the problem, which has become the tragedy and pain of both Chechen and Russian people in the past 10 years, differ, - begins his article Economic and Social Consequences of Chechen Conflict: Ways out of the Crisis Malik Saidullaev, a prominent Chechen public leader and businessman. Dan Smith from the Institute of Peace in Oslo offers his opinion in an article about armed conflicts. Research on economic and social issues encompasses an article by Candidate of Philosophy Vakhit Akaev about the state of modern Islamic trends in Chechnya, including the conflict between followers of traditional Islam and wahhabism. An article by Professor Igor Kosikov is devoted to the activity of federal center and local authorities to restore the economy and create the state apparatus of the Chechen republic. The head of the department in charge of the restoration of the education system of Chechen republic of the Russian Education Ministry Vasily Mizherikov examines the current state of education system in Chechnya. (in detail ... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng§ion=historyeng&row=4) Russia - Chechnya Russian regions to Chechnya The Chechen constitution project is being published in Saratov Collaboration, support, and help are constant directions of relations between Saratov region and Chechen republic. The Sratov regional governor Dmitri Ayatskov pays much attention to this problem. In his phone talk with our correspondent, Ayatskov phrased his sureness that peaceful life in Chechnya is a common concern of all the Russian regions, and every man of this country. We need peace in North Caucasus, and we should aid its development by all means, believes Ayatskov. The Saratov region administration receives many letters from Chechnya with pleas to help, and they really try to help as much as they can. The administration provides food, schoolbooks, and notebooks for children, organizes childrens and veterans holidays, and renews schools. Now, when the referendum in Chechnya is about to be held, the Sratov region governor decided to publish in local typographies 100 thousand brochures with the text of the future constitution of Chechnya. The brochures are printed in Chechen. They will be delivered to the republic, however part of them will remain in Saratov. (more... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng§ion=sregeng&row=1) Chechnya: news | arguments | facts 11 Mart 2003 Aid to disabled people in Chechnya improved this year as compared with the last one According to the Chechen Ministry of Labour and Social Development, some 32,000 invalids make their home in Chechnya. Of this number 1050 need prosthetic appliances. In 2002 217 Chechen residents were given free orthopaedic services. This year another 600 crippled people must be provided with artificial limbs, or more than twice as many maimed people as last year. This has become possible thanks to the fact that an orthopaedic service centre has been set up in Grozny recently. Chechen invalids will no longer have to travel to Rostov-on-Don, Vladikavkaz, Stavropol or other cities to get artificial limbs. The prosthetic and orthopaedic centre in Grozny has been restored with the assistance of the Russian Ministry of Labour and Social Development. The Russian Cabinet granted Minister Alexander Pochinoks request for funds to do repair and restoration work, and also purchase and take to Chechnya special purpose equipment by the German company Ottoboko. The International Red Cross has also proved helpful in training personnel. It funded the training of eight Chechen specialists at a similar facility in Sochi. Of course, there is more to social assistance for Chechen invalids than just providing them with artificial prosthetic appliances. Invalids of the Great Patriotic War and other people, entitled to similar privileges under the law, receive Oka mini-cars free. Last year 20 such cars were given to war invalids, this year the figure is due to increase notably. The Chechen Ministry of Labour and Social Development has already paid for 50 Oka mini-cars. Also, ever more disabled people are sent to resorts and sanatoria for treatment. In 2001 44 invalids were treated at sanatoria, in 2002 the figure jumped to 303, while this year the Chechen Ministry of Labour and Social Development plans to send 600 disabled people to resorts and sanatoria. According to the chief of the Ministrys Department of invalids rehabilitation and social integration Ismail Gagalov, the Government has to pay 8,920 roubles for a place in a sanatorium for 21 days thats granted to an invalid for free. The Chechen Government draws on the federal budget to get the money to pay for places at sanatoria, as well as for other kinds of social assistance for invalids. (more News from Chechnya http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=diaryeng) 9 Mart 2003 Public Services Center To Be Established in Zentroye The residents of Chechnyas Kurchaloevsky region have welcomed the report on launching of the construction of a public services center in Zentroye this spring. Now they have to go to neighboring regions to get a hair-cut, be photographed or repair shoes. They will be able to do all these on the spot as a new center is built. The two-storied building taking up 1.460 square meters will house a hair-dressing saloon, a photo center, tailors shop, repairs of shoes, TV and radio equipment and domestic appliances and a post-office with a communication center. There will also be a cloak-room and a fridge for perishable products. The center will help to put retail in order and push out trade points from the streets. Furthermore, the new public services center will assist in reducing of unemployment. 160 new jobs are quite sufficient for a village with the 15-thousand population. (more News from Chechnya... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=diaryeng) 08 Mart 2003 Telephone communications at the Shelkovskoy region of Chechnya Telephone communication has become part of life of Shelkovskoy region. Two telephone points have been opened in the regional center and in the Chervlyenaya stanitsa from where locals can talk with all Russian cities as well as foreign countries. Linkup is fast and cost 8 rubles per minute talk on the average. There are always many people waiting to use the facilities both locals and servicemen. The regional Automatic Telephone station is being enlarged and starting from 2000 it served 208 subscribers and last January its capacity was doubled and now offers 500 numbers. But a further enlargement is being hampered by the lack of lines and distributing network. However a Russian research institute has been awarded a contract the implementation of which will add a further 100 lines to the stations capacity. The work should be finished this year and the region will then purchase the necessary equipment. There are plans to provide telephone communication facility for all stanitsas in Shelkovsky region and already in March Grebenskaya, Voskrecenskaya, Starogladovskaya, Harkovskaya, and Shelkozavodskaya will each have a telephone communication facility. First to be connected to the facilities will be hospitals, schools, local administrations military units and police stations. (more News from Chechnya... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=§ion=diaryeng) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Religion in Chechnya Paganism and Christianity in Chechnya At different times forefathers, forebears and ancestors of Chechens and Ingushes (Veinakhs, Nakhs) had different religious beliefs. Apparently, male and female names Khalad, Anu, Ashura, Alalu, Ashtati, Nanna, Diki, Kibela, Nuba-dit, Aruba and Kuzhukh date back to early paganism, the times of Hurri-Urartu states. Between 3000 and 1000 B.C. the names were used to call various gods. As a rule, every natural phenomenon or heavenly body had ts own god. Depending on the nature of the wish offerings were made to this or that god, be it the god of sun, rain, war, love or fertility. Religious traditions are the most lasting ones in the culture of an ethnic group. They stay on even after conversion to another faith. In the Chechen community you can still hear vows such as Tsu dashochu malkhor (Swear by golden sun), Tsu lyattor (Swear by earth), Tsu byapkor (Swear by bread). People pronouncing vows of this kind will be deeply hurt if they are told that by doing so they depart from Islam and commit a grave sin. The pagan and Christian past of ancestors and forefathers of Chechens and Ingushes is reflected in legends, folklore, ancient and medieval cultural monuments and archaeological discoveries. The Assinovsky gorge is known to have three Christian temples (Tkhaba-Yerda, Albi-Yerda and Targimsky). Similar temples and churches, according to legends, were also in other parts of the mountain chain but Tkhaba-Yerda was the biggest, occupying more than 100 square meters. Rich Christian burial places were discovered under the churchs floor and by its walls. The temple, experts say, was built no later than the 10th century A.D. by Georgian architects, who wanted it to be the biggest church in Central Caucasus. According to researchers (M.B.Muzhukhoev. The Spread of Christianity among Veinakhs), Tkhaba-Yerda Temple was erected on the site of a heathen temple devoted to Tkhaba deity. Today the name is etymologized on the basis of Nakh languages and is compared to the ancient pagan deity Tkhya.The process of christianizing Chechens and Ingushes got further development during the reign of the Georgian Tsarina Tamara. Indications of that were the appearance of two new churches around Tkhaba-Yerda. more... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng§ion=religioneng&row=1) Chechen culture Traditional Folk Arts THE HISTORY OF CHECHEN WEAPONS THE AUTHOR IS ISA ASKHABOV, AND THE TITLE IS 'CHECHEN ARMS' Unveiling the book, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Tourism in the Russian Lower House G.Omarov had this to say: "... the freshly published book 'Chechen Arms' symbolizes the historical and cultural unity of all peoples in the Caucasus. It calls for peace, ethnic harmony and neighbourhood in the Caucasus area." Archives contain next nothing on the subject and previous publications are sketchy. A whole body of facts concerning Caucasus arms and history would almost certainly have sunk into oblivion if I. Askhabov had not defied the difficult war conditions of the 1990s to collect memories and material evidence of old arms smithies in highland villages around Chechnya. His work boosted the list of known Chechen arms smiths from 14 to 162. Dr E.Astvatsaturian of Russia's State History Museum wrote a preface to Askhabov's book. She says the author's success in identifying people behind signatures and brands should enable Russian museums to correctly attribute hundreds of Chechen swords and daggers in their collections. One fine Chechen dagger at the State History Museum has been proven to be a creation of the famous arms smith Makhmad from the village of Dzhugurta. (in detail ... http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng§ion=ctradeng&row=3) Copyright CHECHNYA FREE.RU http://www.chechnyafree.ru/index.php?lng=eng -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=news.media.chechnyafree http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com