US compared to Taliban

Having received Chechen Rebel Emissary Ilyas Akhmadov, the US administration puts itself at the same level with the Taliban, officials at the Chechen Representative Office in Moscow is quoted by RBC as saying. It is worth mentioning that Mr. Akhmadov was received by an official of the US State Department responsible for US relations with new independent countries. This brings up some thoughts. Only the Taliban has officially recognized Aslan Maskhadov’s regime so far. However, officials at the Chechen Representation emphasized that this meeting could have “any serious impact” on the situation in the republic of Chechnya. Spokesmen for Russian Presidential Aide Sergei Yastrzhembski negatively reacted to the “Chechen” meeting in Washington D.C. as well. They drew attention to the fact that the last time Mr. Akhmadov was in Chechnya in October 1999. Thus, the so-called Foreign Minister of Chechnya is not likely to be aware of the situation in the republic. It seems that the only purpose of this meeting for the USA is to infringe upon Russia’s rights. US officials explained such unfriendly act against Russia as a desire to learn Mr. Akhmadov’s view of the current situation on the republic, which can hardly be the truth. It’s very interesting that “the US Department of State managed to receive Chechen Emissary Aslan Maskhadov and express its negative reaction to terrorist acts in the Stavropol region of Russia on the same day,” Russian officials added. Thus, such step of the USA can be considered as “political.” In an opinion of Russian officials, US actions proved the USA is conducting a policy of “double standards” towards both Russia and the problem of terrorism.