Russia criticizes "double standards" in combating terrorism

Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently said the double standards in dealing with terrorism are "disastrous for global security " and "the indulgent and excusatory attitude toward killers is tantamount to abetting terrorism."

Speaking at the third international conference of mayors held in Moscow last week, Putin said: "We faced double standards in the attitude towards terrorism."

"There continues to be attempts to divide terrorists into 'ours and others,' into 'moderates and radical,'" the Russian president noted.

The president said the West has been two-faced by giving asylum to top Chechens and urging Moscow to negotiate with rebel leaders but rejecting the possibility of dialogue with Osama bin Laden.

Putin firmly turned down the call for holding talks with terrorists.

"It is absolutely unacceptable to yield to the idea that bargaining with terrorists will give us something. Every concession leads to expanding their demands and multiplying our losses," he said.

The president made the remarks just hours after Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev said he had ordered the Beslan school siege in southern Russia in which more than 320 hostages were killed, and threatened more attacks by any means he saw fit.

On the issue of combating terrorism, Western countries have accused Russian authorities of violating human rights, opposed military actions against Chechen rebels, and indulged and havened rebel leaders.

It is a just cause for Russia to combat separatists and terrorists, but the West often blames Russian troops for "violating human rights" and killing innocent people in Chechnya.

The US government never criticizes itself for violating human rights in Iraq despite the killing of many civilians and the prisoner abuse scandal, Russia media noted, adding that the Chechen issue should be resolved by Russia as it is an internal affair of the country.

Russia stresses that surrender is the only way out for Chechen separatists, and the government will never negotiate with them.

The West, opposing Russia's military crackdown on Chechen rebels, has been demanding a solution through talks.

However, after the hostage crisis in Beslan, Russia's stance on combating terrorism has been further strengthened.

When meeting with a group of foreign journalists and academics in his country house outside Moscow on Sept. 6, Putin said those who called for talks with Chechen leaders have no conscience.

"Why don't you meet Osama bin Laden, invite him to Brussels or to the White House and engage in talks, ask him what he wants and give it to him so he leaves you in peace? Why don't you do that," Putin said

"You find it possible to set some limitations in your dealings with these bastards, so why should we talk to people who are childkillers?" he asked, adding that "no one has a moral right to tell us to talk to childkillers."

Putin noted that Osama bin Laden had twice offered European countries a truce if they withdrew their troops from Iraq. "But nobody entered into negotiations with him, because the methods and means he chose make it impossible to maintain a dialogue with him," he said.

He also said his country is seriously preparing to launch preemptive strikes against terrorists.

"We in Russia are engaged in serious preparations at the moment to act against terrorists in a preventive manner," Putin said.

He said the strikes will proceed "in strict compliance with the law, constitutional standards, and the principles of international law."

The Russian government is enhancing hunting operations for Chechen rebel leaders, but the West has indulged them for a long time.

US Secretary of State Collin Powell has said recently he will hold talks with "people who claim Chechen independence" to seek political dialogues. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher also said his country will meet with "Chechen moderates" despite Russia's opposition.

Analysts said the West has been carrying out the principle of double standards on the Chechen issue in order to contain the development of Russia.

When expressing condolences over the victims in Beslan hostage-taking, US President George W. Bush said the United States and Russia will combat terrorism "side by side."

Russia will judge the United States by its deeds, not just by its words.

Source: Xinhua