| Russian President Vladimir Putin's government reform
plans have a questionable link to fighting terrorism, Professor Alexei
Arbatov, a member of the Carnegie Moscow Centre's research committee,
told Ekho Moskvi radio on September 16, 2004. Arbatov praised some of
Putin's proposals but poured scorn on others. He said that Russia needed
to increase society's control over security structures and hold them to
account and warned that regional government reform could play into the
hands of religious extremists.
Positive steps against terror
Arbatov said that some of Putin's recent plans were genuinely connected
to fighting terrorism but others were not. For example, he said that closing Russia's
southern borders was a priority and that this would cost only R100m. He
said that the borders could be closed over a three year period, beginning
with the most dangerous sections. He added that this was essential if other
antiterrorist measures were to be successful.
Arbatov also welcomed the removal of Vladimir Yakovlev from the post
of presidential envoy to the Southern Federal District and his replacement with
Dmitri Kozak. "This is an entirely correct step. He is an extremely businesslike,
capable and honest man. He has repeatedly shown himself to be a man who
is able to do what he has been asked to do," he said. Arbatov added
that it was important that Kozak was given power over military and civilian
structures.
Questionable steps against terror
Arbatov said that other proposed changes were irrelevant with regard
to terrorism. He questioned the need for electoral changes and said it
would be better to make it easier to set up independent public organizations
"if we want to stimulate civil society". Arbatov said that the
formation of a new "public chamber" had "nothing to do with
fighting terrorism". He questioned how this chamber would be assembled,
saying that its members would probably be appointed from above, and said
that Russia already had a parliament and other organs to exert public control
over government and security bodies. Arbatov said that parliament should
be given the controlling powers it needs, such as "parliamentary commissions
that could summon any official".
Arbatov criticized the increased centralization of power at the expense
of other branches of government. He said that Russia had been following
"this path for the last four years and the terrorism situation has
been getting worse and worse and worse". Arbatov said that Russia
should go in the other direction and increase control over security structures.
"If we want the security structures to be effective, we mustn't give
them immunity from criticism, from parliamentary control, from accountability
for their work,"he said. Arbatov added that society should make its
views on this clear by speaking out.
Panic must be overcome
Arbatov played down the possibility of a new Cold War as Russia and
the West are too closely tied in economic terms and in their fight against
terrorism. However, he said that cooperation could become less effective
over disputes or disagreements.
Arbatov said that attempts to find scapegoats for Russia's problems
abroad and at home was "a sign of helplessness and even panic, rather
than a real analysis of one's mistakes". He said that following the
Beslan crisis the Kremlin had been in a state of bewilderment from such
a great shock but cautioned that "bewilderment can be understood,
but only if it doesn't turn into a long-term policy".
Playing into the hands of extremists
Arbatov said that "open dictatorship is impossible" in Russia
because society has changed and "people are not afraid to express
their opinion". He noted that many people had spoken out against
Putin's reform plans. Arbatov himself criticized Putin's plans for regional
reform, saying that "the de facto appointment of governors by the
president will relieve them of having to answer to their regions".
He added that in national republics this would reduce governors' control
over society "including groups that could accept the ideas of Wahhabism".
He said that this would play into the hands of Islamic fundamentalists.
Based on BBC monitoring
See also:
International
Anti-terror Coalition
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