#10
Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry Anti-Terrorism
Department Chief Interviewed
Moskovskiye Novosti
23 October 2001
[translation for personal use only]
Interview with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anatoliy Safonov, newly
appointed head of anti-terrorism department, conducted by correspondent Dmitriy
Babich: "Main Man on Terrorism"
A new department which will deal with problems of combating terrorism has been created within the MFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs]. The official name of this agency will be the Department on Questions of New Challenges and Threats. Our Moskovskiye Novosti correspondent talks with its new director, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anatoliy Safonov, formerly First Deputy Director of the FSB [Federal Security Service], about what the functions of this subsection will be.
[Correspondent] Anatoliy Yefimovich, of what do the tasks of this new administration consist?
[Safonov] Even before the events of 11 September, an administration had been created within the structure of the MFA, which concentrated all international information on the topic of combating international terrorism, drug trafficking, spread of weapons of mass destruction and money laundering. Recent events have demonstrated the need for elevating the status of this structure to the level of a department. There is no international meeting that does not touch upon the topic of international terrorism.
[Correspondent] And are there analogous structures abroad?
[Safonov] There are, and they are developing. Recently, the Office of Homeland Security emerged in the USA, which deals with problems of terrorism directly. In the State Department, there is a special section headed by Admiral Taylor, who served 30 years in military-naval intelligence.
[Correspondent] In recent years, the MFA has had to hold its front in the struggle against terrorism. During each visit abroad, Minister Igor Ivanov was forced to answer unpleasant questions about Chechnya. Will this situation be retained after 11 September?
[Safonov] I do not think that changes in the consciousness of the international community will take place quickly. But the initial understanding, of course, is coming. It is no accident that President Bush's National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice said that Americans cannot combat international terrorism in Afghanistan and support it in Chechnya. Then again, we are on the whole better understood by government representatives of one country or another, than by leaders of various international social organizations. This is explained by the fact that the government in one country or another really answers for the security of the citizens, and, in case of another terrorist act, it will be held answerable. But international organizations engage in another problem--to see that there are no violations of human rights on the part of one state or another, including Russia. We do not perceive this in a dramatic manner--ultimately, this is the specialty of these people. But we also do not absolve ourselves of responsibility for ensuring human rights.
[Correspondent] During the Cold War, the following principle was often invoked: "Their terrorists are our freedom fighters, and our terrorists are their freedom fighters."
[Safonov] Double standards exist even today. There is a certain circle of persons who have intentionally made criticism of Russia over the events in Chechnya their pet topic. They do not perceive any arguments or evidence. But on the whole, the vector of public opinion is shifting in the direction of understanding the positions of Russia. Elementary logic is pushing for this. Look: Although the whole world is concerned about the fact that the peaceful population in Afghanistan not suffer during the bombing, the USA refuses to guarantee 100-percent "sterility" of the operation. So why should even higher demands be presented for us?
[Correspondent] It is difficult to ignore the fact that several men from the group that committed the terrorist act of 11 September had participated in combat actions on the territory of Chechnya. However, this is not reflected in the Western press in any way.
[Safonov] Nevertheless, we have evidence about this page in the biographies of the terrorists as well. I might add that the biographies of participants in the 11 September terrorist act are unique in that, during their stay in the West, these men did not engage in anything illegal. After all, there are no prohibitions against collecting money in mosques or learning to fly a plane. This demonstrates how difficult the task facing all of us will be--to prevent terrorist acts before the criminals begin to carry them out.
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