The Khasavyurt Russian-Chechen Agreement

31 August 1996

JOINT STATEMENT

We the undersigned,

Taking into consideration the progress achieved in the realisation of the Agreement on the cessation of military actions;

Making efforts to achieve mutually acceptable preconditions for a political settlement of the armed conflict;

Acknowledging that the use or threat of armed force to settle disputes is unacceptable; Based on the generally accepted principles of the right of peoples to self-determination, the principles of equal rights, voluntariness and freedom of choice, the strengthening of national agreement and the security of peoples;

Expressing the intent unconditionally to defend the human rights and freedoms of citizens, regardless of national origin, religious denomination, place of residence or other differences, an end to acts of violence between political opponents, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1949 and the international covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966,

We have worked out principles* for the determination of basis of relations between the Russian Federation and the Chechen Republic, on the basis of which further negotiation will take place.