The efficiency of the US operation against the Taliban in Afghanistan will depend to a large extent on the position of Russia, both directly and indirectly, in view of Russia’s influence on Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and other countries in the region. This opinion was expressed by the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defence Committee and deputy from the Yabloko faction Alexei Arbatov at a press conference at the RIA Novosti news agency on September 18, 2001.

Arbatov also thinks that “Russia’s profit here is very small, whereas the risks are very high – to open a second front against the Taliban.”

In general, according to Arbatov, the consensus position of Russia regarding the acts of terror is as follows: complete moral support for the USA, political support for the American decision to make the fight with international terrorism a priority issue in their security policy, as well as a call on Washington not to resort to mass strikes which could affect civilians.

These strikes, stressed Arbatov, should be precisely targeted against the perpetrators of the acts of terror in Washington and New York who are clearly connected with the international terrorism network.

Based on RIA Novosti reports

See also:

Acts of terror in the US