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No need for global help to end Chechnya conflict: Straw
Tuesday September 7th, 2004LONDON: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Monday ruled out any UN or other international role in resolving the Chechen crisis, saying that it was up to Russia to find the right way of ending it. "This is something which is bound to have to be resolved by the Russian government," Straw told BBC radio in the aftermath of the Beslan school hostage-taking bloodbath. "It is within their state and they have been taking steps to deal with it," he said, adding that President Vladimir Putin "is a man to make his own judgments about what is appropriate". Straw said that he often discussed Chechnya with Russian officials, "but with great respect I don't think now is the moment (to discuss ways to end the conflict) because it is almost tasteless and it is disrespectful to the dead and the dying and their relatives" in Beslan. "In addition to that, it has the effect of sliding away the focus from where it should be, which is on the nature of these people who say they have some cause or other, but who are willing, in support of that cause, to murder innocent children," he said. Straw said Britain has offered Russia any help or advice it needs to confront terrorism, though he added no request has been received from Moscow in relation to the Beslan incident. "We have always worked closely with the government of Russia in counter-terrorist operations and if and when they need any assistance and advice from us of course they will be offered it very readily," he said. Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-09-07 |
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