Vol. 8 Issue 7 - Public International Law & Policy Group

"I don't want to be on the side of those people whose names will be eternally cursed by my
people," Barayev said, according to a statement from Kadyrov's office. He urged the rebels to
"unite with your people and begin a peaceful life."
Kavkaz Center claimed that Barayev had made a clandestine visit to Chechnya several days
after Israilov's funeral and then returned to Vienna to try to encourage other Chechen
refugees to return. But he was unable to attract others and he departed again, leaving his wife
and son "in extreme anxiety and fearing for their safety," the Web site said.
The Chechen armed insurgency, which began in 1994, has been characterized by shifting
ideologies and loyalties. It began as a largely secular separatist movement, but became
increasingly infused with fundamentalist Islam after Russian forces retreated in 1996 and left
the republic de-facto independent.
Russian forces swept in again in 1999 in a massive and brutal offensive that left the capital
Grozny largely in ruins. Major offensives died down years ago and many rebels have laid
down arms. Kadyrov himself is a former rebel, as are many members of his security corps
whom activists accuse of abductions, torture and executions.
Kadyrov, who became Chechen president two years ago, has undertaken measures to
emphasize Chechnya's Islamic identity, apparently aiming in part to undermine Islamist
support for the rebels.
On Tuesday, he ordered that sale of drinks with more than 15-percent alcohol content be
banned during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and otherwise sold only from 8 to 10 a.m.
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Cyprus
EU lawmakers urge Turkey to speed Cyprus cooperation
Agence France Presse, 2/11/09
European lawmakers warned Turkey Wednesday that its failure to open up its ports to ships
from Cyprus could undermine its hopes of joining the European Union.
In a resolution adopted by 65 votes to one, with four abstentions, the European Parliament's
foreign affairs committee expressed regret that an EU-Turkey customs accord had still not
been extended to member state Cyprus.
"The nonfulfilment of Turkey's commitments by December 2009 may further seriously affect
the process of negotiations," the resolution warned.