#15
BBC Monitoring
West to ditch Chechnya in exchange for Moscow's support
against Taleban -
pro-Chechen site
Source: Kavkaz-Tsentr news agency web site in Russian 18 Sep 01
The pro-Chechen rebel web site Kavkaz-Tsentr has said that the United States
will repay Russia for its support over Afghanistan by pledging "total
non-interference" in Chechnya. The web site said that Russian President
Vladimir Putin had his own agenda in establishing anti-terrorist cooperation
with the USA, adding that this cooperation would boil down to a "basic
exchange of intelligence information" on Afghanistan. Following is the text
of Roman Voznyak report by Kavkaz-Tsentr news agency web site entitled
"Afghanistan's devastation may be paid for by Chechnya's
annihilation":
As is known, in a telephone conversation shortly after the tragic events in
New York and Washington the US and Russian presidents expressed their
readiness to create a common front in their fight against so-called
"international terrorism". Taking into account the differences between
the
White House and the Kremlin on some fundamental issues of international
politics, such an "anti-terrorist alliance" at first glance seems like
a
hypocritical declaration of intent.
The rather warm relations between the Kremlin and the Iraqi and Iranian
regimes testify that these sworn enemies of the USA are hardly in danger of
turning into a testing area for the implementation of the military efforts of
the fledgling "allies". Obviously, the vectors of hatred between the
potential nuclear adversaries are threatening to cross on the long-suffering
land of Afghanistan. For greater effect, the common enemy has even been
personified, although both of the accusing sides have not provided any
convincing evidence of his guilt.
If Bush, in his concern for the shattered state image and meeting halfway his
retribution-craving electorate, chooses the easiest way of resolving the
situation - points to an enemy (before familiarizing himself with the results
of the investigation), his Kremlin opposite number has somewhat different
goals. The American president has found himself in quite a difficult
situation.
Unlike his vigorous predecessor, who used missile strikes against foreign
states to avert public attention from his own sex scandals, Bush will be
forced to answer to the whole nation for liquidating the main mastermind
behind the horrendous terrorist acts, as he himself pointed a finger at him.
We can assume that the anti-Afghan military operation will not be restricted
to missile strikes this time - too much is at stake.
The "allied" intentions are somewhat clarified by a statement by
the Russian
defence minister, who said that the Russian military bases in Central Asian
states will not be placed at NATO's disposal under any circumstances. Indeed,
why does Moscow need to interfere in a large-scale war, incurring the wrath
of the Islamic community, if there is a chance to cause maximum damage to the
Taleban through someone else, especially your enemy?
The "anti-terrorist cooperation" declared by the USA and Russia
will boil
down to a basic exchange of intelligence information on Afghanistan, which
Moscow has in abundance after ten years of war. With the help of this
information the USA is hoping to increase its chances for a successful
military operation, which, it cannot be ruled out, will also include a ground
forces stage. The West will repay such a service by promising total
non-interference in Russia's "counter-terrorist operation" in Chechnya
and
its war of extermination. It is no secret that Moscow's attempts to label the
Chechen Resistance as "international terrorists" have still not
generated any
understanding in the West.
Although it is difficult to suspect most of the cynical Western politicians
of special sympathies for the unequal fight of the Chechen people, the
Chechen problem has been used as a lever of pressure on intractable Moscow.
In the current situation, the US-led Western world is ready to easily give up
this lever in return for Russia's anti-Afghan resistance. At best, such a
step will be justified by the inability of "Western democracies" to
effectively influence Russian policy in the Caucasus and at worst - Putin's
rhetoric about "ties with international terrorism" will be taken on
board.
They will always find the necessary excuses.
Mirthless bargaining is going on between the "allies":
Afghanistan's
devastation will be paid for by Chechnya's annihilation. However, the latest
events in Chechnya and tough and decisive measures by Chechen Resistance
fighters indicate that Moscow's intentions might encounter an insurmountable
obstacle in the form of a nation continuing to fight. The results of this
battle are quite unclear for Moscow.
[Signed] Roman Voznyak (Kiev), especially for Kavkaz-Tsentr
