Russia to find out which former Soviet republics delivered rockets to Chechen terrorists

The Russian side has called on all the former Soviet republics to inspect anti-missile systems at their disposal, so that they could be compared with those confiscated from Chechen terrorists. In other words, Moscow is trying to find out from which ex-soviet republics rockets were delivered to Chechen terrorists.

"The Foreign Ministry sent appropriate diplomatic notes to all the former USSR republics, first of all the Baltic states," Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov announced opening a session of the Council of the CIS Countries' Defence Ministers on Wednesday. In particular, the question is about Igla portable anti-missile rockets (PZRK), the minister specified.

In the course of an anti-terrorist operation in Chechnya several dozens of the Igla PZRK, bearing serial numbers, were confiscated from terrorists, Ivanov recalled. Stressing that "such dangerous weapons must not fall into the hands of terrorists" the Russian minister announced his intention to clear up the way the terrorists had got hold of the Iglas by the serial numbers.

According to him, this will contribute to joint efforts on fighting terrorism and preventing new supplies of dangerous weapons to terrorists in future. In this connection Ivanov suggested discussing the issue of fighting terrorism apart from the official agenda.