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Q&A: Putin and terrorism

Dougherty
CNN Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty  


BERLIN, Germany (CNN) -- Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty has been covering Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Berlin, Germany, where joint action against terrorism topped the agenda.

Q. What was the significance of Putin's speech to the German parliament?

Dougherty: His speech was a political rallying cry for East and West to move on from the old Cold War and to find a new security system. He said that in the last 10 years the world has moved on, but we still don't trust each other. The old Cold War mentatlity had prevented us from seeing the common threat.

His aides had already said that his speech to the German parliament would be one of the most important he had ever given.

He also called for a conference of Muslim leaders in Moscow called "Islam against terrorism."

Q. The terrorist attacks on the United States dominated Putin's talks in Germany. Will there be joint action by the West and Russia against terrorists?

Dougherty: Military action, no. The Russians are making it quite clear that politically, they cannot support any joint action with the U.S. because the Russian people won't accept it.

However they are outlining the other areas where joint activities can be very useful in fighting terrorism. For example, between the security services and intelligence services of the U.S. and what used to be the KGB, now the Federal Security Service or FSB.

Q. How have Russians reacted to the attacks on New York and Washington?

Dougherty: On the human level Russians have been very affected and touched by the attacks. In fact early polls showed that approximately 80 percent of Russians felt that this was a major tragedy for the United States.

However when it is in terms of any military action from the U.S. there is very little public support for that. So some have described it as Russians support Americans but not necessarily America and what it is going to do.

Q. Have the attacks affected relations between U.S. and Russia?

The attacks have brought them closer together, both in the short term and the long term.

In the short term through the sympathy that Russia has had for what the U.S. has suffered.

In the long term through the increased cooperation between the two countries particularly in terms of developing plans for multinational efforts to fight terrorism.

Aides to President Putin say that he himself is going beyond what some of his own advisers have been urging him to do in terms of cooperation with the United States.

Q. What does this mean for Russia's action in Chechnya?

Dougherty: This is a very sensitive situation for both Russia and the United States. Russia insists that the rebels who are fighting in Chechnya are part of an international terrorist movement and that some of them are trained and financed by Osama bin Laden.

However the U.S. position is that Russia has a serious problem in Chechnya and it is to a certain extent fighting terrorism, but the methods Russia is using to fight that war are excessive and have targeted in some cases civilians.

This is a dilemma for the U.S., which does not want to give a green light to Russia to continue a very harsh campaign.

Q. What now for America's plans for a missile defense program, which Moscow opposes?

Dougherty: Unquestionably what has happened will affect the debate. Some argue it will weaken support for missile defense but U.S. officials are saying the opposite -- it will mean support for any form of homeland defense.



 
 
 
 


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