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Expert Calls For Dialog With Radicals Instead of Their Mockery

Crowd of Moscow Demonstrators and Police in EveningMOSCOW. Jan 17 (Interfax) - The dialog with various groups and ethnic communities is the best way to combat radicalism, President of the Institute of Contemporary Development Igor Jurgens said in an interview published by the Monday issue of the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.
Image adapted from version copyright (c) 2010. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036 www.rferl.org

"If radicalism is growing in society, it is necessary to open valves as soon as possible. Radicals should not be mocked, instead, there must be a respectful debate," he said.

"We do not want these rough boys from Manezh Square to rampage through Moscow, so, before it is too late, they should be involved in politics and those prepared to take part in state development must be discovered," he said.

Jurgens explained radicalization with the laziness of those bound to interact with civil society. "By the way, all of our problems stem from laziness. Detectives are too lazy to hold investigations: a person sent to jail will make a confession. Political technologists are too lazy to interact with radicals: let the police disperse them, while I talk to (Communist Party leader Gennady) Zyuganov and (Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir) Zhirinovsky because they are controllable. I think that is a short-sighted attitude," he said.

It is also necessary to develop a dialog with the leaders of ethnic communities. "We will either press on leaders of these communities or give the possibility of a dialog with the authorities to the most adequate of them," he said.

Jurgens criticized the idea of separation of the North Caucasus. "Separate and see what will happen to the Stavropol territory bordering on the separated North Caucasus. The disorganized society, which will not become democratic in the near future like Iraq or Afghanistan, will produce its radical leaders and they will receive support from Saudi Arabia. We will have one war after another," he said.

Asked whether the country will stay calm in December 2011 (during the parliamentary elections), Jurgens said, "Yes if we start the dialog with the groups to which the federal authorities are not listening attentively enough. In that case, the country will have a tempting prospect for six years. If we don't, I fear there will be no calm."


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