#8
gazeta.ru
June 21, 2002
Washington sees two sides to Chechen conflict
By Artyom Vernidoub
Washington continues to insist on a political settlement of the Chechen conflict, Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Elizabeth Jones told Russian journalists on Thursday. Ms. Jones was taking part in a television bridge held by the US embassy in Moscow.
Earlier, observers noted the considerable changes American foreign policy had undergone since the beginning of the US-led counter-terrorist campaign against al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan. After September 11 the US was quick to acknowledge that in Chechnya Russia is faced with the threat of terrorism, and even international terrorism.
However, by the end of 2001 Washington had once again begun insisting on peace talks with Chechen separatists. On Thursday Ms. Jones assured the Russian press that after the September 11 attacks Washington’s position ''has remained unchanged''. According to Ms. Jones, it is necessary to draw a line between Chechen separatists (insurgents) and ''terrorist elements'' (radical Islamists).
In the opinion of Ms. Jones, Russia should maintain a political dialogue with the former group, whereas ''various other measures'' need to be taken against the latter. ''We call on Chechen residents to stir up their political activity and to distance themselves from the terrorists,'' the Assistant Secretary of State said.
What has changed in Washington’s stance on the situation in the Northern Caucasus is the relationship with Georgia. As Ms. Jones explained, after the 9-11 terror attacks Georgia raised the issue of terrorist elements using Georgian territory.
Ms. Jones did not name any specific areas harbouring ''terrorist elements'', unlike US President George W. Bush who, speaking in March on the White House lawn, openly branded the Pankisi Gorge a possible breeding-ground of terrorism.
Ms. Jones also pointed out the status of the US military instructors, who have been arriving in Tbilisi over the past few weeks. ''There are no US bases in Georgia, it is just that American personnel are using Georgian bases,'' she said.
According to her, the same goes for the American military presence in the former Soviet republics in the south. ''I would like to make it clear. The matter concerns the US presence in Central Asia, not US military bases,'' the Assistant Secretary of State explained.
Ms. Jones said that the US and former Soviet republics have maintained military ties for a while now. At present, the military bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan constitute a very convenient bridgehead for conducting the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan. The US ''will use those as long as the counter-terrorist campaign requires them'', Ms. Jones stated.
In response to a question on whether the partnership between the US and the leaders of the Central Asian states may affect the civil liberties situation in these countries, the Assistant Secretary of State said that Washington is trying to convey to the allies its vision of democracy.
And this also means that national security is not only a question of defence but also of public support for the state authorities. ''For the citizens to have jobs and an opportunity of choice,'' Ms.Jones summed up.
When asked by the Gazeta.Ru correspondent, what exactly Secretary of State Colin Powell meant by asking his counterpart Igor Ivanov to interfere in the conflict between the Belarusian authorities and the OECD mission, Elizabeth Jones said, ''I would not like to speak of what forms this interference should take, for Russia knows Belarus better than we do.''
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