05 February 2004, 17:16
Soldier's mothers intend to form party and strive for cessation of war in Chechnya
The Union of Russian Committees of Soldier's Mothers has notified the Russian Ministry of Justice of its intention to found a political party. Now the Union has to go through a long process: the law gives one year to arrange and hold the constituent congress, then regional branches have to be registered and 10 thousand members have to be enrolled... Valentina Melnikova, leader of the "soldier's mothers", named the cessation of war in Chechnya among priority tasks of the party being found.
She is inspired for success by the fact that as early as 1999, the UN Security Council adopted a special resolution that binds UN Member States to take into consideration the opinion of women's organizations when making decisions on security matters, peace and war.
"As a public organization we have not enough strength to make the power acknowledge us to be right in our demand not to wage war in Chechnya, not to harass soldiers, not to draft ill men, and to help those families whose boys became disabled. It seems to me and my colleagues that the form of a political party will be that missing instrument," Valentina Melnikova said in her interview with the Grani.Ru Internet media.
Source: Grani.ru Internet Daily
