Russia for joint anti-terrorist plan

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, MARCH 18. Russia is going to step up pressure on Turkey to curb the activity of Chechens living there in the wake of the hijack of a Russian airliner last week.

The Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, expressed the hope that the hijack would give an impulse to more active Russian- Turkish cooperation in combating crime and terrorism. He was quoted as regretting the fact that the hijack took place on the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Turkey.

Russia has long accused Turkey of giving refugee status to Chechen rebels. Russian television has showed wounded Chechens being treated in Turkish hospitals. Chechen rebels enjoy widespread support in Islamist circles and Chechen associations freely operate in Turkey and publish numerous newspapers. Ankara has denied the charges.

Moscow has now made it clear it is determined to press Turkey into action against Chechen rebels.

At an emergency meeting with top security officials on Friday night, Mr. Putin instructed the Foreign and Interior Ministries to come up with an effective anti-terrorist plan of cooperation with the Turkish security services that should be acceptable to our Turkish partners, according to a report.

Mr. Putin was quoted as saying that Moscow had repeatedly warned the international community that terrorists were fighting not only against Russia, but also against countries where they take refuge. The Russian embassy in Ankara protested to Turkish authorities about their failure to act on Russian warnings of suspected terrorist plans by Chechens in Turkey.

Mr. Putin's order to draft a new anti-terrorist plan of cooperation with Turkey came a month after the Russian Interior Minister, Mr. Vladimir Rouchailo, visited Ankara to sign an agreement to enhance security cooperation.

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Section  : International
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