Russia restrained over U.S. strikes

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, OCT. 8. Russia has voiced measured support for the U.S. strikes in Afghanistan, urging restraint and concerted international action in fighting terrorism.

Describing the strikes as ``expected'', the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, voiced confidence that the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, and his Ministers ``will do their best to prevent Afghan civilians from being harmed''.

Mr. Putin said the organisers of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. had made ``a mistake,'' hoping to play different centres of world power against each other, as they did in the past. The terrorists had ``not expected that mankind would close ranks in the face of the common enemy,'' he said.

At the same time Mr. Putin said that Russia's limited participation in the U.S.-led war against terror ``would remain unchanged''. Moscow refused to open its military facilities to the U.S., but agreed to share information on terrorist organisations and provide air corridors for humanitarian flights. It also pledged military assistance to the anti-Taliban forces and promised to take part in search-and-rescue operations on Afghan territory. Mr. Putin also said Russia would expand its ``large-scale humanitarian aid for the people of Afghanistan''.

A statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry said ``the time has come'' to fight terrorism ``with all available means in keeping with the U.N. Charter''.

``Wherever they may be, in Afghanistan, in Chechnya, in the Middle-East or in the Balkans, terrorists must know that justice will reach them,'' the statement said. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry failed to explicitly welcome the U.S. bombing strikes in Afghanistan.

The Interfax news agency reported on Monday that Russia had begun to deliver weapons to the anti-Taliban forces of the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan. Moscow said it would provide a total of $45 million worth of arms to the anti-Taliban forces, including Soviet-era T-55 tanks, armoured vehicles, Kalashnikov rifles and other small arms. Meanwhile, security has been stepped up in the Russian capital, with Interior Ministry troops deployed to guard key installations and offices, including Western embassies.

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Section  : International
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