Terrorist attacks on U.S.: the international reaction (12/16/01)

Terrorist attacks on U.S.: the international reaction

Special from RFE/RL Newsline

Kazakstan offers use of facilities

ASTANA - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told journalists in Astana on December 9, following talks with President Nursultan Nazarbaev and Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrisov that the Kazak leaders will make the country's military bases and airspace available to the U.S.-led anti-terrorist coalition, Western agencies reported. Mr. Powell expressed appreciation for that offer and extended an invitation from U.S. President George W. Bush to President Nazarbaev to visit Washington later this month. Mr. Nazarbaev said in late November that he would consider any U.S. request for use of Kazakstan's military infrastructure, but that no such request had been made at that time.

Secretary of state visits Uzbekistan

TASHKENT - On a two-day working visit to Tashkent, U.S. Secretary of State Powell met on December 7-8 with Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov and President Islam Karimov to discuss bilateral relations, which Mr. Powell subsequently told journalists have been raised to a "qualitatively new level," Russian agencies reported. Affirming Washington's intention to expand political and economic cooperation with Tashkent, Secretary Powell admitted that there are disagreements between the two countries concerning the optimum pace of democratization, according to Interfax. On the eve of Mr. Powell's arrival, and just days after the signing of an agreement under which Washington will provide Uzbekistan with up to $100 million in aid, Uzbek Parliament Chairman Erkin Khalilov proposed holding a referendum to extend President Karimov's presidential term by two years.

Uzbekistan finally opens border bridge

TASHKENT - U.S. Secretary of State Powell also announced in Tashkent on December 8 that the Uzbek authorities had agreed to open the border bridge at Termez the following day to accelerate the transportation of humanitarian aid from Uzbekistan to northern Afghanistan, Reuters reported. President Islam Karimov had said on December 6 that the bridge would not be opened until security had been tightened in Termez to protect its inhabitants from possible attacks.

Powell on first visit to Moscow

MOSCOW - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived on December 9 in Moscow for his first official visit in Russia as U.S. secretary of state. Powell began his visit by honoring the victims of the August 8, 2000, unsolved bombing of an underground passage of Pushkin Square, ntvru.com reported on December 10. The website quoted U.S. officials as saying that "the U.S. and Russia are now both on the same side of barricades." The website added: "Fighting against one common evil - terrorism - is what brought the two countries closer together." Cooperation between the two countries is on the agenda of both President Vladimir Putin and Secretary of State Powell. In a television interview broadcast on ORT on December 9, Mr. Powell confirmed that an understanding may be reached between the two sides on the use of armed units in peacekeeping operations and crisis situations, with NATO acting on its own. Mr. Powell also said that, even though it has not applied for membership in NATO, Russia will participate in the alliance's governing bodies. Before leaving Moscow on December 10, the U.S. secretary of state was scheduled to meet with representatives of Russian business circles, RosBusinessConsulting reported.

Kyrgyz legislature OKs use of airfields

BISHKEK - Kyrgyzstan's Legislative Assembly (the lower chamber of its bicameral Parliament) voted on December 6 to allow U.S. military aircraft to use the country's main international Manas airport near Bishkek for the duration of the anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan, Reuters and RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported. Addressing deputies before the vote, President Askar Akaev said he believes Kyrgyzstan does not have the right to reject the U.S. request, and that China has been consulted and has no objections. The agreement reached earlier this week between the Kyrgyz leadership and international military officials refers only to the United States, but Deputy Foreign Minister Asanbek Osmonaliev said on December 6 that other members of the international anti-terrorism coalition that have requested use of Kyrgyz territory, including Canada, France, Italy, Australia and South Korea, will also be allowed to use Manas airport, according to the Associated Press. Reuters quoted Transport and Communications Minister Kubanychbek Zhumaliev as saying that Kyrgyzstan will receive $7,000 for each takeoff or landing by a large aircraft.

Rushailo: Russia sees double standard

MOSCOW - While addressing a meeting with his counterparts from Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Belarus and Moldova, Russian Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushailo said that "some countries in the West cannot refrain from adding fuel to conflicts in Russia's sphere of influence," Russian media reported. At the same time, Mr. Rushailo said that Turkey and Saudi Arabia have a "double standard policy regarding Chechen terrorists," especially as far as their financing is concerned. Mr. Rushailo added that Russia is consulting with the United States on the issue, and would like to initiate an investigation of countries' compliance with the United Nations resolution on preventing the financing of terrorist organizations.

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