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#6
U.S. AMBASSADOR IN MOSCOW: THE THREAT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM FOR RUSSIA COMES FROM GEORGIA

MOSCOW, May 12, 2003. /From RIA Novosti correspondents Anna Bobina and Kristina Rodrigues/. During the conference "Russia in global politics", U.S. Ambassador in Moscow Alexander Vershbow stated that the threat of international terrorism for Russia comes partially from Georgia.

"Terrorist training camps have been discovered on Georgian territory, particularly in the Pankisi Gorge region," said the ambassador.

Vershbow reiterated that in recent years Moscow and Washington managed to strengthen cooperation between respective intelligence services in the fight against terrorism.

According to Mr. Vershbow, "after 11 September, both sides achieved a significant progress in uniting the efforts of the world community in the fight against this evil." In particular, he mentioned the adoption of UN resolution 1272, which has to be followed by all world countries and calls for refusal to grant political asylum to international terrorists.

"The victory of anti-terrorist coalition in Afghanistan allowed to eliminate the Taliban regime and to capture the prominent members of Al-Qaeda," stressed the ambassador. In his opinion, terrorist activity has noticeably diminished as a result of these actions.

Nevertheless, the terrorist threat still exists, and the world community has to coordinate its actions to withstand this evil, underlined the diplomat.

According to Mr. Vershbow, the United States is interested in Russia's active involvement in international affairs, and Washington stands for Russia's prominent role in the response to the threats and challenges of the new millennium.

"We have common goals and common interests," stated the ambassador. He said that the international political institutions like the UN and the recently created Russia-NATO council must assists in coordinating those goals and interests. "We welcome the actions that bring the positive results and we are interested in increasing mutual cooperation," Alexander Vershbow pointed out.

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