DMITRI ROGOZIN AGAINST HANDING OVER VAN DER STOOL’S CHAIR TO TARASYUK

Last week, Pravda.ru cited one of the competent opinions objecting Ukrainian foreign minister Tarasyuk’s possible appointment to be High Commissioner of OSCE for national minorities affairs. The State Duma’s international affairs committee has given us its support in this issue sending a special message to Russia’s Foreign Ministry. Our correspondent called up Dmirtri Rogozin, the committee’ chairman, to learn what arguments the committee stated in the message. Mr. Rogozin, in particular, said the following. “In our view, the peculiarity of the High Commissioner’s activity is that it is implemented by methods of “tacit diplomacy” and requires all possible objectivity in solving inter-ethnic problems. However, Mr. Tarasyuk’s reputation is far from spotless. Unfortunately, the stubbornness and vigour he exerts trying to obtain this post failed to show in his ministerial activity, in developing and strengthening friendship between our two peoples. We think that Ukraine has enough number of wise and experienced politicians who are really able to solve problems the High Commissioner is required to solve” (recorded by Aleksandr Golovenko).