RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: GRACHEV AND DUDAYEV HOLD TALKS

(6 Dec 1994) Russian/Nat The Russian Defence Minister Pavel Grachev has held talks with the leader of the separatist Chechen republic, Dzhokhar Dudayev. The meeting, in the neighbouring region of Ingushetia, comes after Russia admitted backing rebels who want to overthrow Dudayev and the capture of 70 Russian soldiers in Chechnya. The Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev flew into the Caucus Mountain region as General Grachev arrived by helicopter from Moscow. Dudayev, a former Soviet air force pilot, was surrounded by dozens of security guards as he arrived for talks to resolve the crisis. Moscow has accused Dudayev of allowing his republic to become a haven for criminals and fomenting unrest in the region. Dudayev has said for months that Moscow is arming and leading rebels, trying to topple him. Moscow sealed its borders with the breakaway republic on Monday, after bombing its airfields. The agenda for today’s talks was