The United States is trying to persuade Russia to let the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe reopen its mission in rebel Chechnya, closed this week because of disagreements with Russia over its mandate, the US State Department said today.
Russia told the OSCE, one of the few international organizations monitoring the war between rebels and Russian troops in the southern region of Russia, that it cannot stay beyond January 1st because talks on its mandate had broken down.
US State Department spokesman Mr Richard Boucher said that Washington was disappointed by the Russian government's decision to ask the OSCE to close its mission.
He added: "We are engaged in an effort to find a suitable formula as soon as possible that will allow the mission to continue its constructive engagement and its highly beneficial humanitarian efforts.
"The United States believes the mission still has a valuable role to play in promoting and protecting human rights in Chechnya and in aiding economic development. We're speaking, with other members of the OSCE to address those concerns."
The OSCE, which has 55 members, has been critical of the Russian military's house-to-house search operations aimed at flushing out Chechen separatists.
Critics say they are often carried out brutally and have alienated large sections of the Chechen population.
Mr Boucher also confirmed that the Russian government has said it plans to withdraw from a bilateral agreement which enables US Peace Corps volunteers to operate in Russia.
The Russian authorities say some Peace Corps workers have engaged in spying - an allegation denied by the United States.