Military troops were withdrawn from Chechnya on Dec. 31, 1996.

Criminals were coming to Chechnya from all over the world - they did not have a place in their own countries. But they could live perfectly well in Chechnya.

The people have already determined Chechnya's status at the referendum - it is a unit of the Russian Federation. Its political status is not to be discussed any more.

People took part in the referendum because they were tired of the war. They are afraid of talking about it out loud, but they have shown exactly where they stand: Yes, we want peace, and we want to be a part of Russia.

Only weeks after Oslo began, when nearly all the world and most of Israel was drunk with the idea of peace, I argued that a Palestinian society not constrained by democratic norms would be a fear society that would pose a grave threat to Israel.

We are fighting to keep Israel a democracy - not just in terms of its electoral system but also in terms of its values.

Freedom of belief and worship is the most important guarantee of social peace.

When the body of the people is possessed of the supreme power, it is called a democracy.