Text of report by Russian newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda on 28 September

Consolidation of efforts of the entire international community is needed in the battle against terrorism, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov said in Brussels. According to him, should one of the countries express opposition to cooperating in the battle against terrorism, lawful international pressure should be brought on it by using all political, diplomatic and economic measures, and in extreme cases, sanctions.

Ivanov believes that if the channels for weapons and mercenaries to reach Chechnya are closed, the counter-terrorist operation in the republic may soon be over. He emphasized that when the ultimatum laid down by the president of Russia to the Chechen fighters to stop resistance within 72 hours runs out, "the situation in Chechnya will not have changed fundamentally." The meaning of the president's initiative, the head of the military department believes, is that "we have once again shown that we are giving those who want it the opportunity to lay down their weapons and surrender to the federal forces." The defence minister also noted that the troops in Chechnya want to step up "targeted operations to wipe out fighters".

Speaking of Pakistan's decision to review its position in relation to the Taleban movement, Sergey Ivanov noted that it is a courageous decision. "We must not forget that Pakistan is a nuclear power," the minister emphasized.

Russia and the Central Asian countries may participate in the counter-terrorist operation in Afghanistan in different ways, Sergey Ivanov believes. The Central Asian republics are closer to the theatre of combat operations, and we have never taken from them the sovereign right to determine the degree of their participation in the forthcoming operation themselves, he emphasized. The Northern Alliance is one of the main forces which can participate in a future political settlement in Afghanistan, the minister said, noting that the alliance forces like Soviet-produced weapons a great deal, handle them confidently, and say openly that they do not need any other weapons, even contemporary Russian ones.

The minister also mentioned that the Afghans who are opposing the Taleban need conventional artillery systems, infantry combat vehicles, and armoured personnel carriers. "They are perfectly ordinary and simple, but reliable, weapons which survive intermittent changes in temperature and humidity," Sergey Ivanov emphasized.

On the battle front against international terrorism, the minister of defence noted, Russia has offered, and continues to offer intelligence to the United States. "The positions of Russia and the Central Asian countries have been reconciled" on questions of offering the United States and its allies air corridors and aircraft landings at their airfields. That means the possibility of planes with humanitarian cargo flying over.

After an informal meeting in Brussels with his NATO colleagues, Russian defence minister will make an official visit to Sweden, where talks with the head of the defence department and minister of foreign affairs of this country will be held.

Source: Krasnaya Zvezda, Moscow, in Russian 28 Sep 01

/BBC Monitoring/ © BBC.

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