Russian Information Agency Novosti -
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Published on: 10/12/2004
Last Visited: 10/12/2004
For example, according to Olga Potemkina, the head of the European integration department at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Europe, "the Euro-parliamentarians' reaction was fairly predictable.The Chechen problem is of course one Russia's most complex internal problems and it has to be resolved.The point is that it is far more complicated and requires a far more critical solution than the primitive steps suggested by Europe's political institutions.It is much easier to criticize Russia for human rights violations than to take careful efforts to develop a joint legal base for the fight against terrorism.This is very difficult and requires time, resources and funds."
Today, Ms. Potemkina believes, Russia should orient itself to the group of European politicians and experts who believe that efforts to counter terrorism and organized crime should be de-politicized as far as possible.The expert particularly emphasized, "We should not listen to some Russian politicians who say that the country is making financial contributions to the Council of Europe and getting nothing in return, so we should withdraw from it.We pay this money to be heard there.Moreover, Russia will soon become chairman of the Council of Europe and will have far more opportunities to overcome the existing critical lack of unity in the fight against international terrorism and organized crime."
"We should draft a common list of terrorist organizations and individuals," says Ms. Potemkina."European countries will have no right to let in anybody on this list, let alone grant them political asylum," she continues.
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