RIAN: Ivanov: "No bargaining
for Chechnya in exchange for Iraq"
2003-02-07 22:12
RUSSIA NOT TO CHANGE STANCE ON IRAQ IF USA SHIFTS ITS OWN ON CHECHNYA: DEFENCE
MINISTER
MUNICH, February 7 /from RIA Novosti's Olga Semyonova/ -
Russia will certainly not change its stance on the Iraqi issue in exchange for
the USA to change its own on the Chechen. Bargaining round Chechnya is
out of place, Sergei Ivanov, Russia's Defence Minister, said to the media upon
arrival in Munich, Germany.
Chechen illegal armed formations ought to be qualified as terrorist organisations,
and he will pose the matter at an upcoming conference with Donald Rumsfeld, US
Secretary of Defence, and elsewhere, added Mr. Ivanov.
Russia has offered exhaustive proof of Chechen terrorism to the international
community. It has posed the issue on many occasions, and is sure that a
majority of Chechen gangs are linked to overseas donors, terrorist organisations
and their masterminds.
No true alliance on the anti-terror cause is possible before Chechen gangs
are qualified as international terrorists. Military agencies and secret
services, which hold related information, cannot join hands with each other
when they see double standards in wide use. Russia will step up efforts
against such standards, said the Defence Minister.
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Webeditor's comment: here we are. That is exactly what was expected since
long. Letr us see if the West will buy this rubbish.