12 November 2002 00:00
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN REMARKS AND ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AT PRESS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING RUSSIA-EU SUMMIT, BRUSSELS, NOVEMBER 11, 2002
President Putin: Let me, ladies and gentlemen, acquaint you with the results of the work the way the Russian side sees them.
The Russia-EU Summit held today is the 10th one. It has affirmed that there is no alternative to a choice in favor of bolstering the strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the EU. A thorough, at times sharp, but on the whole constructive discussion of key aspects of our cooperation took place and it has shown that there goes an objective, based on national interests, search for efficient cooperation within the framework of a united Europe. The summit's agenda, as always, was very packed and I will allow myself to highlight only the key moments.
The recent tragic events in Moscow and other regions of the world have confirmed the necessity of working out the measures to deepen Russia-EU cooperation in the struggle against international terrorism. We were unanimous in the view that the world community is currently not faced with individual isolated actions but rather with an ably organized aggression of the striking forces of international terrorism. In this context we mapped out concrete steps to shape an effective global and regional system of counteraction against terror and its financial inspirers and to create an atmosphere of civic intolerance toward the manifestation of terrorism. And we are very glad that we have managed to arrive at a joint document on this issue.
The nature of our debate allowed for comprehensively examining the implications of the upcoming EU enlargement, and foremost, naturally, was the problem of the Kaliningrad Region. For us this is an acute problem. We are satisfied with the results achieved. We are satisfied with the way the discussion went, especially over the recent period, and we are satisfied with the results, I shall emphasize once more. It can be said that the debate lasted up to the last minute, we had been refining in the course of our discussion certain provisions of the joint document, and I would like to thank the chairmen for constructively approaching the solution of these issues. It has been possible to find approaches which to a significant extent have removed Russia's anxieties over the regime for transit trips of Russian citizens through the territory of a future EU member, Lithuania.
Question: Are you pleased with the results of the 10th Summit and in what areas was the greatest progress achieved?
President Putin: We are satisfied with the results, we're satisfied with the course of the debate too. It was a frank conversation, we argued about certain issues, but simultaneously it was absolutely constructive on both sides. And taking into account the results achieved, we have no doubt that on the part of our partners there was an obvious striving to achieve positive solutions on key, the most burning problems. As such we regard the questions of economic cooperation. In the last year we have stated many positive changes, though some problems still exist. And we also spoke of them. We also argued about them. But it seems to me that there is a positive mindset for advancing on these issues. And the second point - it's, of course, the solution of the question of transit between Kaliningrad and the rest of the Russian Federation. We are satisfied with these results. The dialogue did not go smoothly, even up to the last minute. But, I repeat, this is an acceptable result for us.
Question: The Government of Russia declares that it is fighting terrorism in Chechnya. How are anti-personnel mines and explosive shells being used? All this leads to deaths of hundreds of people. Don't you think that by trying to liquidate terrorism in Chechnya this way, you are eradicating the population?
President Putin: I would say thus. Russia isn't fighting terrorism in Chechnya only. Russia is fighting international terrorism and it is prepared to fight its manifestations everywhere. In our country we encounter this first of all, to be sure, in Chechnya. That's an intricate conglomerate of problems which was initially brought on by separatist tendencies in the republic. Very soon, due to the absence of real power, this separatism was altered; it began to be influenced by international terrorists and religious radicals who within practically several months picked up power, which literally lay about on the ground. You well know about that. This is no secret to any one of those sitting here. No one can accuse Russia of suppressing freedom. Russia in 1995 granted full independence de facto to the Chechen Republic. In 1999 we paid a price for that. A large-scale attack was made on Russia, on the Republic of Dagestan, under the slogan of establishing a caliphate, of tearing away territories from the Russian Federation - the whole of the North Caucasus and a number of other territories. What does the independence of Chechnya have to do with it? Who can answer this question? It is answered by the people who aided this aggression, who inspire and finance activities of this kind. They are religious extremists and international terrorists. By the way, I want to draw your attention to the fact that the creation of a caliphate on the territory of the Russian Federation is only the first part of their plan.
Actually, if you follow the situation in this sphere, you cannot but know that the radicals have set themselves much more far-reaching goals. They speak of creating a world-wide caliphate. They speak of the necessity to kill Americans and their allies. I think that you are from a country which is an ally of the United States. You are in danger. They speak of the necessity to kill all non-Muslims, or crusaders, as they say. So if you are a Christian, you are in danger. But if you will decide to renounce your faith and be an atheist, you are also subject, by their way of thinking and assumptions, to liquidation. You are in danger. If you will decide to become a Muslim, even this won't save you, as they hold that traditional Islam is also hostile to the aims they have set themselves. In this case too you are in danger.
If you want to altogether become an Islamic radical and are prepared to have circumcision, then I invite you to Moscow. Ours is a multidenominational country, we've got specialists on this issue too.
Question: Do you consider that today's decision on Kaliningrad is final? Or is it only an interim arrangement?
President Putin: As far as the problems of Kaliningrad are concerned, I repeat that that was a sufficiently complicated problem relating not only to the European Union, but also to the necessity of an unconditional assurance of the national interests of Lithuania. I repeat we are extremely satisfied with the way we today managed to reach an appropriate agreement. I do not think that this solution is ideal in all of its elements, we will continue to work with the European Union. Our aim, it seems to me, in the final analysis must be the creation of conditions for free movement of citizens of Russia and citizens of European countries to each other on business, private matters. This is not tomorrow's task but rather the direction in which we ought to move. The most important thing for us is understanding that this is the right direction. Both Russia and our EU partners have this understanding.
Question: Several years ago, at the similar summit in Sweden, you compared the militants in Chechnya with ethnic Albanians in Macedonia. Don't you think that the solution which was found in Macedonia, meaning that former militants became government members, could be an example for Chechnya rather than the new knockout blow to the Chechens, in the course of which you are using explosive bombs against the civilian population? And the second question. When does Russia plan to withdraw all the troops and weapons from Transnistria, as you were supposed to do that even by the end of the current year?
President Putin: As regards the first question, I agree with you. Unlike many of my colleagues, I believe that those who want peace in Chechnya and are striving for it have the right to take part in this process. And I not only so think, I act in this direction. I want to inform you that the acting head of the Chechen administration, Mr. Akhmad Kadyrov, in the recent past with arms in hand fought against federal forces. However one may dislike this, or, on the contrary, I think that there is nothing surprising in this - we are going through a complicated period in the history of the Russian Federation, a very complicated and difficult span of time in the history of Chechnya. We must take everything into account, know everything and enlist all the people who, I repeat, are striving for peace.
Consequently, the only exclusion are those who actually do not want peace, who seek war and who are carrying out terrorist acts, using the slogans of peace, or thoughts which in a democratic society are considered the norm, as a cover. Now these people, the bandits, the terrorists, I think we must fight. We will do so, and I hope that we will do that together, because if we give just one chance to the people who seize peaceful, innocent citizens, then we will get it not only in Moscow, New York or Washington, not only in Bali, but also in many other countries of the world. If the so called freedom fighters are terrorizing, trying to intimidate us with the threats that they will seize nuclear or other facilities vital and dangerous from the point of view of the broad sections of the population and will want to use them for their own purposes, I think that here either we together with you identically will treat such activities or we will encounter a problem. I want only to warn you not to create any loophole for these people. Any, even the smallest trifle which is of benefit to them is regarded by them as weakness and will be used by them against those who show this weakness.
I yesterday met with the representatives of the Chechen public, I yesterday said and can say today: we are not against political processes, we are in favor, but we propose to separately examine the problems of terrorism, and separately the problems of a resolution of the complex political questions, whatever they may be.
And on the second question - Transnistria. My colleagues and I today discussed this problem. Russia not only has assumed the appropriate obligations, but is also directly interested in withdrawing weapons from Transnistria. Unfortunately, the leadership of Transnistria are people with whom it is difficult to solve questions of this kind. They have their own interests, their own perceptions of these national interests. I think that these perceptions are erroneous. We will continue the dialogue with them on these issues. We together with the OSCE are working hand in hand, well understand each other on these issues. On these problems we have complete trust with the representatives of the OSCE. I want to thank all those who under the auspices of the OSCE are concerned with these problems. We pulled out a part of the weapons. This is absolutely not enough, and we will continue this work.
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