| Rather than changing the world, Sept. 11 brought
to light already existing problems. Mankind was given a clear
signal that the key problem of the 21st century must be resolved.
I am referring to the widening gulf around the world between
poverty, deteriorating living standards, falling life expectancy
and the spread of disease on the one hand, and prosperity, technological
progress, rising education levels and growth of intellectual potential
on the other. In other words, we are witnessing the widening gulf
between the citizens of developed countries and those in many
other countries, whose lives have been deteriorating.
Of course there is no justification for terror. It is rooted
in ignoble acts rather than in poverty. However, it is at the
very least shortsighted to ignore the circumstances in which this
baseness develops, as indeed it is not to understand what feeds
this behavior.
After Sept. 11, the international authority of Russia has grown
thanks to the correct and clear-cut foreign policy advocated by
President Vladimir Putin.
Over the past year military efforts in combatting terrorism,
primarily in Afghanistan, have failed to yield any significant
results because this problem cannot be resolved by military force
alone. Force is necessary, but it is clearly insufficient on its
own. And too little has been done in other areas.
When confronted by their own inability to resolve the most acute
problems, politicians have with increasing frequency descended
into political farce, whether unintentionally or of their own
volition.
Over the past year, we have all seen that NATO is an ineffective
military and political organization, that relations between the
United States and Europe are not as cloudless as they had seemed
previously, and that the United States has on many issues been
attempting to pursue its own course in isolation from the international
community.
However, today there is a great need for close coordination
and cooperation between the United States, Europe and Russia to
reduce the threat posed by terrorism and increase global stability.
The results of the past year can be summed up as follows: We
have a better understanding of the problems and also of their
complexity -- we now need to hasten their resolution.
Grigory Yavlinsky is leader of the Yabloko party.
See also:
the article at
www.themoscowtimes.com
International
Anti-Terror Coalition
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