National hostility in Russia roots abroad

Russia is deprived of the imperial ambition that the USSR used to have

The Foreign Minister of Netherlands, Bernard Bot, attempted to justify his own statement about the tragedy in Beslan, when the Russian foreign ministry condemned that statement as “blasphemous.” Soon after the hostage crisis, Bernard Bot called on Russia to provide a full account of the events that resulted in such a horrific drama. Bot stated afterwards that the European Union did not know much about how Russia intended to extricate from the crisis.

No other country, but the Netherlands, has taken such a position after the tragedy in North Ossetia. Even the countries of the European Union expressed their pity and presented sincere condolences to Russian families, the Russian government and the Russian people on the whole.

We remember, who defended the Caucasian terrorists and how. We know, which countries nurture the guerrillas, who kill children and civilians in Chechnya, North Ossetia, Volgodonsk, Moscow. In Russia, people are concerned with neo-Nazi sentiments, which can be currently seen in the Baltic countries. Yet, Russia is being very accurate with its comments about it. We realize that it goes about foreign countries' internal matters.

The Russian soul is not a myth, as they believe in the West. It is a real logic of thought and action. Russian people know how to remember and appreciate kindness. When sympathies come from Egypt, Kuwait, Indonesia, from dozens, if not hundreds, of other countries, Russians bow and give their regards to those nations and their leaders.

However, Russian people understand that terrorist-bound double standards in foreign states will come out again, after the hostage crisis in North Ossetia. Maybe, it will take a week or two; but the issue will definitely surface as soon as the Western society forgets about hundreds of killed children. It is not ruled out that certain Western officials will start talking about Russia's imperial ambition again, and how it hurts the villains. Such viewpoints are very hurtful to Russians, who still have to face horrible tragedies in their lives.

Russia is deprived of the imperial ambition that the USSR used to have. We wish Western people understood it. This is probably the reason, which causes very unpleasant problems with respectable countries, which could become Russia's staunch allies in the struggle with terrorism. According to the BBC, US President Bush harshly condemned the ones responsible for the hostage crisis in Beslan. Bush stated that America is at one with Russia. It was an action in response to Putin's immediate reaction to 9/11 terror attacks in the USA. Putin was the first official to offer help and present condolences to the people of America. It became a crucial point in the national foreign policy, when Russia joined the States in the anti-terrorist struggle. Putin proved his words with action: Russia rendered practical and diplomatic assistance during the US-led war in Afghanistan.

It seems strange, but the USA and several European countries still believe that Chechen guerrillas' actions are not to be categorized as terrorist activities. At least, they do not bear direct relation to the struggle that the US is leading against al Qaida. It is obvious, however, that Islamite gunmen play the main role in the Chechen conflict. The start of peaceful life in the Chechen republic is being undermined from abroad.

Chechnya has recently elected its president. This time the Kremlin's pressure was even less than on Putin's election. The tragedies in Russia in August and September represent a hostile response to the election of the Chechen president. Chechen leaders – Alu Alkhanov and Ramzan Kadyrov - talked about it in interviews with PRAVDA.Ru correspondents. It goes about a large and long-standing terrorist act against the entire Russian population.

Special services and governments have probably made serious mistakes during the North Ossetian hostage crisis. Terrorism in Russia's Caucasus is an international issue, as the international anti-terrorist struggle. The actions of Russian special services are an internal matter of Russia.

We would like to hope that Russia's position after Vladimir Putin's speech to the nation will be more understandable for everyone, including the Netherlands foreign minister.

BBC photos

Aleksey Perfilyev