Russia Audit Chamber Chief Urges Collective Clampdown On Terror Cash

Chairman of the Russian Audit Chamber, Sergei Stepashin, has argued for Russia and the West to negotiate collective measures to control international cash flows, which "the terrorist internationalism" has hijacked to sustain its criminal operations. He was speaking to the Dutch-Russian economic forum, in The Hague on Monday, involving government officials and business and finance executives of either country. Stepashin said Russia is the West's natural ally in an unstable new world facing hitherto unknown threats. He added the West should take advantage of the opportunity of taking cooperation to new frontiers. Enlarging on the role of the Audit Chamber, the top government agency exercising financial control over Russia's business life, Stepashin said the watchdog has been instrumental in developing a free market environment and forming an investor-friendly climate. He underscored the Audit Chamber can oversee implementation of large investment projects which the Russian government has guaranteed. Stepashin met with the Dutch Economics Minister and parliamentary leaders and is to follow up with meetings with the country's Prime Minister, his counterpart in the country's top financial watchdog, and Dutch business leaders.