|
Putin Defends Against EU Criticism On Chechnya
STOCKHOLM, March 23 (News Agencies) - The European Union on Friday reiterated to Russian President Vladimir Putin its call for a "political solution" in breakaway Chechnya, but Putin defended Moscow's handling of the situation, drawing parallels with present-day Macedonia.
Speaking to a joint news conference with Putin at his side, Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson, whose country holds the current EU presidency, said a solution to replace Moscow's heavy-handed handling of the situation in the breakaway region was imperative.
Putin replied, "We do share this concern" but added that the military action against secessionist Chechens had been equally imperative.
"If we had not taken adequate measures," he said, "we would be facing a much more wide-scale problem these days.
"The decision was to destroy the bases of terrorists where they were found," said Putin.
"These were terrorists and those of them not willing to disarm ... were brought to justice ... and we are witnessing absolutely the same thing in Macedonia these days.
"Nothing has been done to disarm the terrorists," he said, referring to ethnic Albanian rebels fighting Macedonian security forces along the border with Kosovo.
"And I would like to call those who are attacking Macedonia terrorists, not rebels. Things should be called by their own names."
The escalating fighting in Macedonia, said Putin, "does create conditions for shaking Europe at its very heart...The situation can continue to develop in this negative manner. There is no confidence that other countries in the region are secure."
Putin admitted however that there were problems in and around Chechnya that could not be solved with weapons.
"There are actually problems which require a solution in the humanitarian field," he said, listing among them the return and resettlement of refugees, unemployment and rebuilding the rule of law in the republic.
Persson also emphasized the EU's intent to seek closer ties with Russia, saying "a more fully integrated Russia" was in the interests of both.
He also said the EU was prepared to support Russia's membership in the World Trade Organization.
"We want to integrate, not exclude Russia, but this requires reforms in Russia," said Persson.
|
