31.   Politicians in Moscow have since criticized the provision as vague and dangerous and insisted that the separatist republic remain part of Russia.

32.   Russian leaders and legislators have since criticized the provision as too vague and dangerous and insisted that the separatist republic remain part of Russia.

33.   Since the end of the war, the southern Muslim republic has remained awash in kidnappings and other crime despite government efforts to contain it.

34.   The Chechens consider themselves independent, but Moscow insists that the southern Muslim republic remains part of Russia.

35.   The Chechens consider themselves independent, but Moscow says the southern Muslim republic remains part of Russia.

36.   The former Soviet republic remains heavily dependent on energy from its aging nuclear plants.

37.   The European Union has insisted that the two republics remain united in some form to avoid further political instability in the Balkans.

38.   The EU has insisted that the two republics remain united in some form to avoid further political instability in the Balkans.

39.   The former Soviet republic also remains crippled by poverty and high inflation.

40.   The former Soviet republic remains heavily dependent on nuclear power and continues to operate the plant, despite warnings in the West that it is unsafe.