Commission for rehabilitation of Chechnya to meet today

The Russian government commission for the rehabilitation of Chechnya's economy and social sphere is due to meet in Moscow today. It will sum up the fulfilment of the federal target programme for the rehabilitation of that Russian republic in the first half of the current year. The meeting will be chaired by Vice-Premier Viktor Khristenko and Federal Minister for Chechen affairs Vladimir Yelagin.

RIA Novosti has learned from sources close to Minister Yelagin that between January and June 250 houses were put into use in the republic and that about 600 private houses will be built by the end of July. Altogether it is planned to build or restore 2,470 houses in the current year. During the first six months of the current year 27,000 refugees from among those who were put up in temporary tent camps in the neighbouring Ingushetia returned to Chechnya. Only 26,000 people have remained there now.

It is believed that the decision will be taken at the meeting to build permanent dwellings for those forced migrants who do not want to return to Chechnya -- for example, for fear of blood feud.