General Kvashnin denounces attempts to interfere with other states' affairs using fight against terrorism as pretext

General Kvashnin, the chief of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff, denounces the attempts of some countries to interfere with other states' affairs on the pretext of the fight against international terrorism, he said at a graduation ceremony of the Joint Staff Academy officers.

The world is facing an unusual task, the fight against international terrorism, which is being solved by armed forces, he said. Yet, some countries use the threat of international terrorism in their own interests, the general pointed out.

"When the armed forces of a country fight against terrorism in their territory and resort to assistance of other states, it is one thing. But it is quite different when using the fight against international terrorism as a pretext some countries try to solve their own problems and interfere with domestic affairs of other states," he said.

In this connection the general pointed out that the Academy's graduates in the beginning of the 21st century should be prepared to fight against such a threat. "It requires the ability to adequately analyse and assess the events in the world, to predict the development of the military and political situation and prepare the troops accordingly," Kvashnin explained.

The Military Academy of the Russian General Staff is Russia's oldest military educational institution. On the whole, it has educated 16,650 officers, including 3,177 officers from 34 foreign states.

In 2003, the Academy had 100 graduates, including 16 officers from the CIS and other countries.