10 December 2002 00:00
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SENDS GREETINGS TO PARTICIPANTS OF THE CONFERENCE ON THE MILITARY'S ROLE IN COMBATING TERRORISM
2002-12-09-01
President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has sent a message of greetings to the participants of the Conference "On the Military's Role in Combating Terrorism."
The message reads in part:
"Today it is impossible to consider Europe's future without taking into account global security tasks which the entire world community has to solve in the 21st century. The most important of them, undoubtedly, consists of the need to counter new threats and challenges -- such as international terrorism, which has assumed a global character.
"To cope with these challenges is only possible by combining efforts via broad multilateral cooperation and based on a comprehensive strategy. It is undoubted that the military also have to play their role being in the forefront of fight against the terrorist threat.
"I am convinced that Russia and NATO have the potential for cooperation in the new security conditions. It has been this common understanding of the need for joint actions that has made it possible to alter the quality of the Russia-NATO relationship. It is of fundamental importance that the antiterrorist sphere is now part and parcel of our increasingly strong cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance.
"There should be no resting on our oars, however. The need is ripe to devise an effective system to prevent acts of terrorism, cut off its financial support and ensure the inevitable punishment of terrorists and their accomplices.
"It is our common task today to make the Russia-NATO Council an effectively operating instrument of the new security and stability architecture in Europe."
The President of the Russian Federation also wished the conference participants successful and productive work.
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