The leader of Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky said that the beginning of the military operation of the US in Afghanistan was predictable, in view of recent developments.

The position of Russia determined by its participation in the anti-terrorist coalition will be significant, Yavlinsky said in an interview with Interfax on Monday, October 8, 2001.

According to Yavlinsky, the Russian secret services and armed forces should be brought to a state of maximum preparedness to avert any threats to Russias national interests. Consequently, added the leader of Yabloko, the leadership of the country should demonstrate tenacity and self-control to ensure the safety of and protect the lives of Russias citizens.

The military operation of the US in Afghanistan, stressed Yavlinsky, is a large-scale event of international dimension, which will have serious dramatic short-term and long-term consequences. Yavlinsky also expressed his opinion that by using military force we should realise that the final solution of this problem can only be political: a method for liquidating the reasons and roots of this phenomenon, isolation of terrorists and elimination of any support for them

Based on Interfax reports.

See also:

Acts of Terror in the US