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Untitled Document
MOSCOW, Russia – Mark Petrushanskiy, the Chairman of the Jewish community
of Vladikavkas, was among a delegation representing the North Ossetia Republic
in recent negotiations with the Russian Government. Together with other prominent
figures of this North Caucasian, the Jewish leader spoke about the difficult situation
the republic is currently facing. "A new tragedy is imminent in North Ossetia,
although its citizens have not yet recovered from the Beslan hostage-taking,"
expressed Mark Petrushansky in an interview following the meeting with federal
officials. "We are facing unjustified claims from our neighbors in Ingushetia,
who want to take Vladikavkaz and a number of other territories from our Republic".
Since residents of North Ossetia believe that such claims endanger peace in
their region, local leaders decided to share their qualms with the Russian government.
"Jewish and Russian organizations will be the first to suffer in such conflicts,
which is why I gladly accepted the proposal to join the republic's official
delegation," affirmed the Jewish leader.
The delegation held a meeting at the President’s Office with the Deputy
Head of the Internal Policy Department, Leonid Ivlev, and Federation Council
Vice-Chairman Torshin, who heads the committee on investigating the Beslan tragedy.
North Ossetian leaders also met with the Vice-Chairman of the Federation Council,
Mrs. Orlova, and the Head of the Duma's Department on Inter-Ethnic Relations,
Mr. Trofimov.
Seeking a peaceful way out of the emerging conflict, which some fear may turn
out into another war with neighboring Ingushetia, the North Ossetian leaders
asked federal governmental officials to reconsider the 'Law on Rehabilitation
of Peoples who were Subject to Repression". Based on this law and the rehabilitation
of the territories mentioned therein, Ingushetia's politicians are attempting
to annex part of North Ossetian territory for themselves. Governmental officials
promised to take measures to find a way out of this situation and to review
some provoking publications by local mass media that prompted an increase in
hostility in this volatile Caucasus region.
"All ethnicities represented in North Ossetia have been living peacefully
together. We have 27 ethno-national centers, including the Ingush center. And
what we want, most of all, is peace," expressed the Vladikavkaz Jewish
leader, echoing the sentiments of North Ossetian citizens.
Source: The Federation
of Jewish Communities of the CIS
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