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There can be no justification to events in the United States.
It does not matter whether political or religious goals, revenge
or other motives formed the basis for this action. The destruction
of a vast number of innocent absolutely defenceless people has
no explanation and cannot have any justification.
Such an understanding must become a universal platform in the
discussion of Russia’s participation in the fight with international
terrorism. There are different points of view on the forms of
participation of our country in this struggle. But we should clearly
realise that today the attitude of the whole world towards us
depends to a large extent on our position on this issue. Our indecisiveness,
hesitation and ambiguity may stimulate further terrorist actions.
International terrorism must be met by international condemnation.
There are no other ways of combating it. There is no place for
the relics of the cold war on this issue. Therefore, we support
the declaration of the President of Russia of September 11, 2001,
and his consultations with the leaders of European states.
I am certain that neither Russia nor the United States should
be driven by revenge in the development of the anti-terrorist
programme of action. What can serve as the criteria here? The
national interests of both countries. In terms of combating international
terrorism they coincide.
For Russia the goal is destruction of terrorists, wherever they
may be, especially inside or in direct proximity to our country.
It is also in our interests here that anti-terrorist actions do
not lead to destabilisation at our borders or in countries that
are our allies. Our sad experience of treacherous silence today,
despite the almost daily occurrence of such tragedies in our country,
demonstrates that broad-scale military operations are ineffective
in combatting terrorism. They do not oppose terror. A war with
a whole nation has the opposite result. This should be the starting
point for the international anti-terrorist operation.
We should not accord blame for the events in the USA to either
Arab countries in general or Muslim states. Moreover, the participation
of the Arab states in the international anti-terrorist coalition
is especially important.
Russia should participate in the development of a plan to fight
terrorism in strict accordance with international treaties and
procedures, to prepare the co-ordination of the activities of
Russia’s secret services. I think that this may spare us the adoption
of hasty decisions with unpredictable consequences. We should
not wait for some plan to be sent to us.
Many people say that terrorism is an invisible enemy. But they
see us very well. Terrorism has cells all over the world, a system
of communication, shipment of weapons and financial resources
– it is a very complex network. And it is extremely difficult
to fight such an enemy.
Terrorists have no moral restrictions, they have only technical
restrictions; whereas we in our fight with terrorism must remain
human, individuals with democratic ideas, people for whom respect
for human life is the supreme value, people defending liberties.
Only then can we increase the number of our supporters and thereby
conduct a real war with the system of terror.
Today it is not the State Duma and unfortunately not even Russia
that takes the decisions. However, the Yabloko faction proposes
that the State Duma adopt as soon as possible a decision on the
immediate allocation of resources within the budget for the current
year to consolidate the borders with the Caucasus, reinforce borders
in Central Asia, increase the security of nuclear objects and
nuclear power stations and safety of air flights. Our calculations
prove that today
our state can allocate up to one billion dollars to this goal.
This is a concrete task.
And terrorist-fanatics should realise: we will protect the lives
of our citizens and our values, as they protect theirs.
See also:
Acts of
terror in the US
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