Military

EUROPE

RUSSIA: "Give Russia A Chance"

Aleksandr Gamov said in reformist, youth-oriented Komsomolskaya Pravda (9/18): "The president's early resignation would not benefit Russia. It would primarily benefit those who want the electoral bustle ahead of time so as, amidst the noise and confusion, to try to move into the Kremlin. This is hard to do when it is quiet. Yetsin intends to step down in the summer of 2000, as planned, and have his successor take over in keeping with the law. That would be unprecedented in Russian history and put this nation on a road to democracy. Why deny this chance to the unpopular president and the long-suffering country?"

"Putin To Win National Acclaim"

Official parliamentary Parlamentskaya Gazeta (9/18) published this piece by Andrei Papushin, in which he commented on the Kremlin's "tough new policy toward Chechnya": "As a result of that strategy, Vladimir Putin, a state bureaucrat springing from Yeltsin's sleeve, is fast becoming a political leader of national caliber.... No doubt Putin is a first-class professional, which, along with his tough stand on Chechnya, is likely to win him national support."

"Americans Understanding, Sympathetic"

Nikolai Zimin of reformist Segodnya (9/18) took note of a U.S. visit by a group of members of Russia's law-enforcement agencies: "Generally, the Russians were surprised in a good sort of way by how much calmer the federal authorities were compared to the near hysterical media. The Americans' healthy and businesslike approach, as professionals, made it a lot easier to develop a concept of joint work to prevent financial crimes and fight terrorism. The Americans were understanding and sympathetic, hearing about the Russian government's concern over the latest terrorist acts in Moscow and other cities. They offered help which was accepted. But understanding among people of action can hardly improve the general atmosphere, particularly when high-ranking American politicians don't weary of sending the public conflicting signals."

"Albright Stresses Cooperation"

Official government Rossiyskaya Gazeta (9/18), referring to Madeleine Albright's speech at Carnegie, pointed out: "The secretary is convinced that cooperation with Russia meets America's vital interests and values. She accused the opposition of ignoring that fact."

"The U.S. Administration Is Concerned"

Vladimir Skosyrev summed up on page one of reformist Izvestiya (9/18): "The main idea of Secretary Albright's speech is that the U.S. administration is concerned over the current situation in Russia, but is not going to build an iron curtain."

"White House Under GOP's New Attack"

Sergei Guly contended on page one of reformist Noviye Izvestiya (9/18): "The White House is under a new attack from the Republican opposition which demands that the president and vice president publicly admit to a failure of their Russia policy. Albright attempted to win a respite, if not to break through the siege."

"The Only Solution"

In the wake of the terrorist bombings, official government Rossiyskaya Gazeta (9/17) summed up the situation in a piece by Pyotr Orlov: "It seems there is no solution other than for us to put our house, including Chechnya, in order. Of course, we could wait until things come round. But we have waited long enough, almost five years. All to no avail. This way Russia may end up with an Ulster of its own."

"What To Do?"

Reformist Vremya-MN observed (9/17): "Aggression in Dagestan and deadly blasts across Russia have radically changed the public attitude toward Chechnya. People are scared and eager for revenge. The Kremlin being inactive may cause social unrest. Officials, just like ordinary residents, react emotionally. It looks as if the government wants to 'strangle the viper' but does not know how to do this."

"Send Troops To Chechnya"

Pyotr Akopov wrote in centrist Nezavisimaya Gazeta (9/17): "There is a war on in Russia. The murderous effect of terrorist acts is particularly frightening due to the ongoing [political] power struggles. To resist terror, society has to be united. Otherwise, terror will continue, fueling political feuds. Our goal is clear--fighting terrorism is the number one priority today. The question is how we should do this. On that, the Russian leadership is divided, while being unanimous that Chechnya is the focus of evil. Indications are that Moscow may soon send troops to restore its power in Chechnya.... It is too late to discuss how wise it is to do this--it is an anti-terrorist action. Without it, the Kremlin won't be able to stay in control when another apartment building goes up in smoke."

"A Coherent Caucasus Policy"

Editor-in-Chief Sergei Roi of reformist weekly Moscow News stated in centrist Nezavisimaya Gazeta (9/17): "Neither the current establishment nor the next one will be able to come up with a coherent Caucasus policy, one which would be free of psychiatric overtones."

"Do As The Americans Do"

Yevgeny Anisimov advised in reformist youth-oriented Komsomolskaya Pravda (9/17): "We need to find an effective and cheap method to neutralize Islamic terrorists in Chechnya. The best methods today are those used by the Americans and Israelis. They will strike at terrorist bases in any foreign country, without caring much about how many civilians die in the attack.... Those in Chechnya who consider Basayev, Raduyev, Khattab and their ilk national heros must also be ready to bear responsibility for their 'feats.'"

"State Of Emergency Is Wrong Choice"

The leader of Our Home-Russia in the Duma, Vladimir Ryzhkov, stressed in business-oriented Vedomosti (9/16): "What we have in Russia today is total terror.... [But] you can't defeat terrorism through a state of emergency. Neither Israel, France nor the United States ever use a state of emergency in such cases."

"Lack Of Resolve"

Boris Yamshanov demanded in official government Rossiyskaya Gazeta (9/16): "It is almost certain now that Chechnya...was behind the hideous acts (in Moscow)....

"Can a country, pursuing democracy and law as its goals, put up with a seedbed of obscurantism and banditry on its own territory? Can a gang of inveterate thugs terrorize the people of a great power with impunity? Can't Russia defend itself anymore?"

"No More Talks With Chechnya"

Yevgeny Krutikov asserted on page one of reformist Izvestiya (9/16): "After what happened in Dagestan and Moscow, there won't be talks on independence and a 'delayed status' for Chechnya anymore. The federal government has finally made up its mind--there will be no divorce with Chechnya. Shamil Basayev, Khattab and Co. should blame themselves for that. Through their adventure in Dagestan and explosions in Moscow, they have made the Russian public change its attitude toward Chechnya sharply. That, naturally, has given rise to criticism against the Khasavyurt peace accord. There won't be another Khasavyurt."

"New Policy Needed"

According to Georgy Bovt in reformist Segodnya (9/16): "Russia needs a new policy in the Caucasus if it is to solve the Chechnya problem. Sooner or later, it will have to answer several important questions: Should we recognize Chechnya as an independent, albeit terrorist, state? Should we stay in the Caucasus, and how much do we have to pay if we decide to stay? Can we afford that? The current events in Dagestan and Karachayevo Cherkesia, as well as Ingushetia quietly gaining de facto independence, and other republics in the North Caucasus enjoying unconstitutionally extensive autonomy, attest at least to a deep crisis of the policy Moscow has pursued for some 200 years ago. The question every 'withering empire' has to answer at some point is: 'Where do we stop retreating?'"

"When Will We Ever Learn?"

Boris Yunanov said on page one of reformist weekly Obshchaya Gazeta (# 37, 9/16): "Having signed the Khasavyurt agreement, Moscow evidently decided that was it. Nothing has been done since to reach a genuine political settlement in the rebel province."

"Russia's Reaction Infantile"

Liliya Shevtsova filed from Washington for official parliamentary Parlamentskaya Gazeta (9/16): "To view Russiagate merely as part of pre-election struggles in the United States is not to understand its nature and implications.... Russia's reaction to what is going on is surprisingly inappropriate and infantile. In Russia, it is viewed as an anti-Russia campaign.... This is, in fact, an attempt to approach the scandal...from a typically Soviet standpoint, whereby any action must necessarily mean provocation and a conspiracy. The truth is that there is no conspiracy behind the banking scandal. It is just that nothing could stop an avalanche of facts."

"A New Kind Of War"

Andrei Kamakin stated in centrist Nezavisimaya Gazeta (9/15): "What has happened is virtually a declaration of war the kind of which we have never had before. No doubt, the terrorist acts (in Moscow) are an extension of the conflicts in Chechnya and Dagestan. Obviously, we can't win this war as long as our politicians pour righteous indignation not so much on Islamic militants as on the federal administration, suspecting their rivals of committing every mortal sin. A solution to that, trite as it may sound, lies in consolidation, a truce for the duration of the war."

"Tight Security And Xenophobia"

Andrei Kolesnikov observed on page one of reformist Izvestiya (9/15): "Mayor Luzhkov has declared 'special security measures' in Moscow.

"On the one hand, special measures are necessary. But...[they] will bring out the worst in Moscow residents. The way they are being carried out will cause a rise in xenophobia and snitching."

"This Is War, But State Of Emergency Won't Help"

Reformist Izvestiya (9/14) stated in a page-one report by Yevgeny Krutikov : "Russia and fundamentalist Islam are virtually at war with each other.... Confusion and fear are gradually giving way to hatred. Many will accept anything to have the bloody terror stopped...[but] a state of emergency will not help. Even though Muscovites don't mind several of its elements, the whole idea seems ill-advised."

"No Extreme Measures Please"

Oleg Volkov remarked in reformist Vremya-MN (9/14): "Not even a wave of terrorism will make Muscovites want a state of emergency."

"How To Protect Ethnic Caucasians"

Igor Dvinsky pointed out on page one of reformist Segodnya (9/14): "A state of emergency is not needed except in that it might help protect ethnic Caucasians [in Moscow]."

"A Joint Stand Is Necessary"

Dmitry Kamyshev concluded in reformist, business-oriented Kommersant Daily (9/14): "All the Duma can do is join hands with the president and government to fight the bandits."

"The Best Russia Can Do For Now"

Gregori Grushko commented on Russiagate in reformist Vremya-MN (9/13): The best Russia can do for now is take part in all inquiries (into this financial scandal)."

"Bill Gives Boris Third Degree"

Svetlana Sukhova front-paged this comment in reformist Segodnya (9/11): "Boris Yeltsin was quick to respond to the advice Bill Clinton gave him over the phone last Thursday. Some think he was too quick. Instructing the government yesterday, Yeltsin ordered measures to step up the process of acceding to European anti-crime conventions and FATF. According to diplomatic sources, Clinton virtually gave his Russian colleague the third degree, asking him in detail about corruption (in Russia). The link between Yeltsin's order and Clinton's telephone call is quite plain.... The order to swiftly join in combatting corruption and money-laundering on an international scale is probably the most optimal of the few moves the president might make."

"State Of Emergency: Pros And Cons"

Dmitry Volkov, referring to yesterday's bomb explosion in Moscow, wrote in reformist Vremya-MN (9/10): "This tragedy makes Russian politicians consider a state of emergency. While the idea finds support among some, it has at least as strong opposition among others.... Some critics assert that the Kremlin may use a state of emergency to cancel parliamentary elections. But the government, even if it really wants to impose a state of emergency, can't do so--not because it might be suspected of pursuing selfish interests, but because the population does not believe in its potency."

BRITAIN: "Terror In Russia"

The independent weekly Economist editorialized (9/17): "After a series of bombs, even the most phlegmatic of nations would be angry, frightened and eager to see the perpetrators caught. As yet, however, no one can be sure who is behind the bombings. In the circumstances, the worst course of action would be to use the present confusion as a pretext for a state of emergency or some other device for curtailing democracy.... Much hand-wringing is taking place in the West about Russia and who 'lost' it. In truth, Russia, gloomy as it is, is not utterly lost, nor would it be the West's fault if it were. It would be the Russians'. If the state of Russia is to improve--if it is to establish the rule of law, create a market economy and entrench democracy--it will be done by Russians, not by outsiders. Yeltsin has played a part in changing Russia for the better, but not recently. The voters now deserve someone in better health, surrounded by capable and honest advisers, and committed to the kinds of reforms that have long been talked about but never properly introduced. That person might not instantly end the bombing campaign. But...with a better government in Moscow, the malcontents in the regions might even see the merits of staying in the federation rather than trying to secede."

"After The Bomb"

The conservative Times opined (9/15): "It is clearly vital for the Russian administration to protect its citizens. Given the suspicions now being aired, however, it must also be seen to be above suspicion of manipulating this tragedy for its own ends. Although parliament plans a further law on full emergency rule, that should not be needed; nor should Moscow police fall prey to the traditional temptation to arrest every dark-skinned [person].... [No more] than six percent of Muscovites want a draconian state of emergency. Russia's leaders must heed their wishes and refrain from going too far. The blame game must not lead to the abuse of power."

"Can Russian Democracy Still Survive?"

The centrist Independent had this op-ed commentary (9/15) by Associate Editor Rupert Cornwell: "Russia is a land of jostling fiefdoms, of political parties backed by specific financial and industrial groups, with their own media outlets, their fixers and at the furthest fringes, their gunmen. Above all, Russia has yet to acquire a law-based society, whose politicians serve the wider public interest, and whose everyday institutions--from the tax system to the customs service to the police--inspire a minimum of public trust.... Quite simply, does Russia matter anymore? And if it does, given the manifest failure of Western political encouragement and financial aid to produce a cure, is there anything we can do about it? The answer is almost surely, not very much. We will reschedule loans which can never be repaid, anyway. Western intelligence services will quietly offer Moscow what aid they can to bring the terrorists to book. The Americans will continue to help Russia disassemble and make safe its surplus stockpile of nuclear weapons. But ultimately we can but watch, holding our breath and pinning our hopes on elections which no bombs must be allowed to prevent."

"Could The Bombs Be Result Of Some Deadly Internal Politics?"

The centrist Independent noted (9/14): "Whoever is responsible, the Moscow bombings have cast the darkest shadow yet over elections already shaping up as a no-holds-barred struggle for the control of Russia.... The most cynically inclined would argue: Why not engineer terror to justify a state of emergency that would allow the elections to be postponed indefinitely?"

"Bombs In Moscow"

The conservative Daily Telegraph maintained (9/14): "Russia appears to be on the brink of a terrorist war. The terrorist threat is serious on two counts.

"First, if a link between the bombings and Islamic radicals in the North Caucasus is established, Russia will have to brace itself for a long and ruthless campaign. The second danger is that continued bombings will induce the state to adopt emergency measures which will strike at Russia's fragile democracy. Curbs on press freedom and the cancellation of elections to the Duma in three months' time are obvious potential casualties. Such steps would inflict more damage on the post-communist polity than on the bombers."

"Tottering Towards The Brink"

The conservative tabloid Daily Mail had this lead editorial (9/14): "East Timor's descent into hell has transfixed our attention. Yet it is not the tragedy unfolding at the [there] that is most worrying, but the possibility of cataclysm in Russia, where bombs have brought death and destruction... The scourge of terrorism would be serious enough in a stable society, but Russia is far from that. Already beset by gangsterism, economic collapse, cynicism and despair, the whole tottering edifice is now threatened further by the bombers, with potentially catastrophic consequences for Europe... For more than eight years, the West has had the opportunity to help set Russia on the path to lasting prosperity and democracy. But instead of the vision and statesmanship needed for this task, all that has been on offer from the country most in a position to influence events is...Bill Clinton."

FRANCE: "Chaotic Russia"

Gilles Dauxerre remarked in regional Paris-Normandie (9/17): "It is tempting to accuse the Islamic fundamentalists, considering Russia's growing involvement in Dagestan. Nevertheless, to date there is no proof to sustain these accusations, while Russia is caught in a maelstrom of political, economic and social disorder."

"Moscow's Terrorism Test"

Yves Pitette judged in Catholic La Croix (9/15): "Boris Yeltsin and his prime minister are very peremptory. It is not a simple affair to find a solution to a blind bombing campaign.... Some observers ask embarrassing questions. Who benefits from the crime? Why do those bloody bombings strike Moscow today when nothing happened during the two years long war with Chechnya? One would not think of manipulations that would endanger the election agenda in the name of a state of emergency or anti-terrorism fight. Yet the Russian power is so decadent, and weakened by a spectacular series of scandals, that the worst cannot totally be excluded."

"Why?"

Pierre Rousselin asked in right-of-center Le Figaro (9/14): "The accusations made by the Russian authorities and by the Dagestan rebel leader are very serious.... Could the Russian secret service be capable of such terrible massacres for reasons of internal politics? It is hard to believe. But considering the pervasive atmosphere of scandal in Moscow, the hypothesis of a manipulation cannot be totally excluded.... Yeltsin is right to call for national unity.... But considering his weakened position, he cannot be the only person to guarantee his country's stability. If he wants to contribute, he must once and for all deny the rumors which are circulating about his very undemocratic intentions for the coming elections."

GERMANY: "Yeltsin's Time Is Expiring"

Moscow correspondent Mathias Brueggmann filed the following editorial for business Handelsblatt of Duesseldorf (9/20): "Boris Yeltsin's time is expiring...and one thing is getting more obvious, Yeltsin's cohorts are disassociating themselves from the leader in the Kremlin. The formation of the post-Yeltsin era has begun."

"Use Of Force Won't Address Causes"

Berlin's right-of-center Der Tagesspiegel argued (9/17): "Boris Yeltsin said that the state has enough strength and the will to stop the terror. This sounds nice but it is not true. After five bomb attacks...doubts are appropriate.... If [Yeltsin and Putin] now want to resolve the problem by resorting merely use of force, they will only fight its symptoms but not its causes which are based on serious ethnic, economic and social problems in the half-colonial south."

"Washington Needs To Help; What Russia Must Do"

Right-of-center Fraenkischer Tag of Bamberg stressed (9/17): "Washington wants to help Moscow in its fight against the militant Islamism which has also infected Central Asia.... Moscow alone is unable to get the situation under control; it needs U.S. assistance. But what Russia can and must do is reform its federalism. The autonomy of the individual republics should not only be written on paper. Moscow should no longer...exploit the provinces and its peoples. This 'fire belt' in the south can be extinguished only with investments, not with military means."

"Moscow Bombs"

Michael Thumann argued in left-of-center weekly Die Zeit of Hamburg (9/16): "Politicians and journalists in Russia are almost calling for the imposition of a state of emergency.... Time will tell whether President Yeltsin will be responsible for the demolition of Russia's democratic ruins or whether he steps down and allows Premier Putin to do the dirty work.... A new campaign against Chechnya would even meet with applause. And who would, if Russia is waging a war for the fatherland at its southern borders, then expect the acting president to be elected according to democratic rules?"

"Sisyphus On Patrol In Moscow"

Thomas Avenarius held in centrist Sueddeutsche Zeitung (9/15): "It is clear why a postponement of...elections would be fatal for whatever reason. All problems with which the country is faced are the direct consequence of Yeltsin's policies. The new war in the Caucasus is the consequence of his policy in Chechnya. The prevailing 'robber capitalism'...is the fruit of Yeltsin's privatization programs. The corruption charges reaching to the state leadership are closely linked to this. And Russia's inability to act is dependent on the sick man in the Kremlin. And even the terrorist attacks in Moscow, if they are really the work of Chechen Islamists, would be closely linked to the misguided Russian policy towards the Caucasus. Yeltsin's mistakes are Russia's burden. This is why the country needs a new beginning."

"Terror, Any Time And Everywhere"

Munich's centrist Sueddeutsche Zeitung held (9/14): "The dead from Moscow and Dagestan could serve as an argument to impose the state of emergency. In the fight against terrorism, this argument would only be of little use for Yeltsin; in his fight against his political opponents, however, it would be...more useful."

"Insecurity Prevails"

Centrist Stuttgarter Zeitung opined (9/14): "The Islamic fighters in southern Russia think that their moment has come.... Russia has been paralyzed not only by the general disintegration of the economy and of law and order. No, the Russian leadership is also involved in international financial scandals that are destroying its reputation. A sick man sits in the Kremlin who is fighting with his aides for their political survival. Parliamentary and presidential elections are in the offing. In this situation where...insecurity prevails, the attacks hit Russia at its heart."

"Destabilizing Russia"

Right-of-center Magdeburger Volksstimme argued (9/14): "The war at Russia's periphery is turning into a bloody affair for the inhabitants of the capital.... Even the version that Yeltsin is responsible for the attacks in order to find a reason for the imposition of the state of emergency seems to be credible to many Russians. Thus the terrorists have reached one goal: to destabilize Russia."

"Moscow Shake-Ups"

Manfred Quiring argued in right-of-center Die Welt of Berlin (9/11): "If the suspicion of a 'Caucasian trace' is founded, Boris Yeltsin will be confronted with the legacy of his policy. For more than ten years, he and his clique idly watched how misery in the Caucasus grew.... An attack such as the latest one is enough to add fuel to debates about the state of emergency and the suspension of elections. The great Russia that tries to get a place among the big nations with its nuclear potential is hollow inside. The shock wave of the detonation has revealed this weakness."

ITALY: "The American Friend"

Ennio Caretto commented on the front-page of centrist, top-circulation Corriere della Sera (9/18): "Now that the bombs and the bribes in Moscow will be, beginning on Monday, under U.S. congressional investigation in Washington, the Russian crisis risks overtaking, besides Yeltsin, 'his friend Clinton.'... At the moment, it seems that Clinton has opted for an old tactic. He runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds. While on the one side, Secretary Albright warns the Kremlin that nobody is untouchable in the Russiagate case, on the other NSC adviser Berger mentions the possibility that it is 'only' a case of capital exports and tax evasion. The ultimate goal is clear: to make sure that in December the presidential elections take place in Russia. Without them, both the Washington-Moscow understanding and Gore's hopes in the November 2000 election will vanish. For sure, Clinton might have avoided finding himself in this corner if his campaign for democracy and the market in the Kremlin had been more realistic."

"Relics Of The USSR"

Enzo Bettiza opined on the front-page of centrist, influential La Stampa (9/18): "Mass terrorism, galloping corruption, widespread peripheral wars, Islamic separatism...and above all, the specter of a president who is not the hero of the early 90s.... It would be a mistake to think that we are witnessing the collapse of post-Communist, liberal...Russia...because what has survived for ten years is the latest version of the USSR and the men of power it produced. They are all former Communist party members, former KGB officers, former generals of the Red Army, former technocrats of State firms.... This does not mean that Yeltsin's first attempts in 1991...were meaningless. At that time he really believed in his capacity to get a renewed Russia out of the bowels of the USSR. But the force of gravity...has emptied him."

"West Limited In Influencing Events In Russia"

Antonio Pollio Salimbeni had this analysis from Washington in pro-DS (leading government party) L'Unita (9/15): "[Russiagate] forced the U.S. government to do a partial U-turn, for electoral reasons, because Gore is the godfather of the Washington-Moscow connection. The strategic choice of supporting Russia is not under discussion, but all hopes...of disbursing weighty sums have somehow collapsed. It is clear that those expectations about the rapid establishment of a market economy in Russia have been reduced to a minimum.... U.S. experts no longer discuss the positive effects of 'Western style' capitalism for Russia.... After the flow of rhetoric and mistakes regarding the Russian transition...one thing only is certain: The possibility of influencing events in Russia is currently very limited."

"Who's To Blame"

Antonella Scott asserted in leading, business Il Sole-24 Ore (9/15): "It will probably never be known whether the terrorist wave pervading Russia is part of a terrible plot which uses any means to pilot the course of politics, thus preventing the holding of regular elections.... Neither will we ever know whether, on the other hand, the Islamic terrorists headed by Osama Bin Laden caused the deaths (in Moscow)."

"Russia On The Brink Of Collapse"

Leading foreign affairs analyst Sandro Viola commented on the front-page of left-leaning, influential La Repubblica (9/14): "Confronted with the Russian drama, a polemic is mounting in the West concerning the 'mistakes' that the United States and Europe made in their relations with Yeltsin's Russia.... This polemic...is absurd.... One thing we might begin to realize is not that the assistance we gave was excessive, but in fact that it was not enough.... We would have needed more means and time to help the Russian people to recover.... In any case, we should remember that nothing was given to Yeltsin out of charity.... In short, Yeltsin and his transition attempt could not but be supported. It went badly, this is for sure. But rather than speculating on this or that mistake...it would be better to do something to avoid now having the giant fall flat on its back."

"The Strategy Of Chaos"

Leading foreign affairs commentator Franco Venturini front-paged this comment in centrist, influential Corriere della Sera (9/14): "Whoever is responsible for the string of bombings, the war of nerves which has shaken Russia over the past weeks has shifted onto emergency terrain which is more favorable to the Kremlin.... Even if Putin denied that a state of emergency would soon be declared...other sources believe that further episodes of war...would make this inevitable.... Indeed the bomb effect turns upside down political priorities...and gives a role back to Yeltsin.... Czar Yeltsin's strategy is...to find an accord with his enemies whereby he will be assured of a tranquil future notwithstanding investigations underway.... And the appeal to a united struggle against the bombs might favor a final settlement."

"Yeltsin's Temptation"

Franco Venturini, in his analysis of the situation in Russia in centrist, top-circulation Corriere della Sera (9/10) perceived "a deterioration that is turning Russia into the nuclear Balkans of Europe.... Official evidence (regarding the latest bomb explosion) leads to the Caucasus and the Dagestan crisis. That may be the case...but who can rule out the hypothesis that the bombs in Moscow may help feed a strategy of tension of a political nature, aimed at creating the psychological and constitutional conditions for imposing a state of emergency?"

"The Moscow Massacre: A Terrorist Attack That Suits Yeltsin Fine"

Antonio Gambino's commentary in Rome's centrist Il Messaggero read (9/10): "Yeltsin does not seem to have a way out other than creating an emergency situation.... The point to verify, however, is whether such a risky strategy will pay in the end. In order to try to postpone the parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in three months, in fact, Yeltsin needs to be able to count on the support of the army--which he does not have at the present time."

AUSTRIA: "Who Profits From The Terror?"

Foreign affairs writer Josef Kirchengast commented in liberal Der Standard (9/14): "The speculations about the [bombers] even includes...the Kremlin...for whom a change of power after the...elections would mean the loss of influence, money and inviolability.

"It is hard to reconstruct the underlying cynicism behind such calculations: spreading fear and terror, which will trigger the call for a strong hand. Still, one has to ask oneself who profits from the growing destabilization of the country, a few months before the Duma elections. Yeltsin now calls for national unity against the 'terrorists.'... In fact, it is not only Islamic separatists...who have an interest in circumstances that are out of control in Russia. As far as the possible consequences are concerned--a declaration of a state of emergency and cancellation of the elections--it is not significant what causes them.... The West should start making plans for this worst-case scenario."

BELGIUM: "Stakes In War; Terrorists' Goal"

Pol Mathil opined in independent Le Soir (9/17): "The terrorists have very cleverly chosen the perfect timing: the Russian state is in a period of particularly deep weakness, discredited by the scandals, and undermined by the pre-electoral fight between clans which seem more guided by their thirst for power than by the country's interests.... The police, which were trained during the time of the Soviets...have not learned yet to serve a law-abiding state.... In the army, the situation is no better.... Lastly, this ailing State is confronted with a rich and well-oiled terrorist network, led by fanatics.... The stakes are vital. The terrorists' goal is no longer the independence of a small republic in the Caucasus, but the Russian state's stability and the future of the...fragile Russian democracy."

"Poor Russia"

Foreign editor Axel Buyse opined in independent Catholic De Standaard (9/14): "The Russian state is a ramshackle house. It is incapable of handling even one of its most basic mission--enforcing law and order."

BULGARIA: "Anarchy Reins"

Largest-circulation Trud commented (9/17): "The conclusion one can draw from the...explosions is that...anarchy reigns in Russia, the person in the Kremlin is a sick and weak puppet, and the criminals go about their business undisturbed. The reason for all this is that for years no one exercised any control over the money-flow in Russia.... Thus, a small number of people took over Russia's finances.... They are probably the ones ordering the current explosions in order to conceal the traces of their machinations and intrigues."

DENMARK: "Tattered U.S. Policy"

Center-left Politiken held (9/13): "The [financial] scandal is good news for the U.S. Republicans because [if true] it demonstrates Clinton's poor judgment regarding Russia. Clinton's men have viewed the strategic problems as too important to worry about the corruption angle. Clinton is on his way out, so the fact that his Russian policy is in tatters is not important. Gore's responsibility for U.S. relations with Russia could damage his chances of replacing Clinton."

HUNGARY: "A Nail In The Coffin"

Ferenc Kepecs argued in independent Nepszava (9/14): "The hysteria that follows the bomb blasts is obviously fueling nationalism, prejudice and the hunt for scapegoat. And it helps those who have been crying for a 'strong man' for years and would be...eager to hit the last nail in the Russian democracy's coffin."

IRELAND: "Terrorism In Moscow"

The moderately conservative Irish Times judged (9/14): "Russia is once again faced with a campaign of terrorism against civilians linked to a separatist war in the Causasus region....

"Speculation abounds that President Yeltsin is about to take early retirement so that presidential elections can be held in tandem with the parliamentary vote on December 19th--or that a state of emergency will be invoked to delay them both. The situation has become almost as volatile as it was in 1993.... Alongside this, Russia's political and financial establishment is fending off serious claims of corruption and money-laundering on an unprecedented scale."

POLAND: "The Price Of Destabilization"

Agnieszka Magdziak-Miszewska maintained in centrist Rzeczpospolita (9/16): "In the atmosphere of general hysteria...there appear publicly voiced doubts: If the Basayevs and Hattab are really the perpetrators of the attacks...why are they so resolutely distancing themselves from them? After all, in line with their slogans, they should rather boast about such actions.... Can we belittle the [suspicion] that the destruction of the Russian system has gone so far...that some part of Russia's political class might not have stopped short of murdering their own citizens in order to maintain the system or seize control over it?"

"The Worst-Case Scenario"

Slawomir Popowski wrote in centrist Rzeczpospolita (9/14): "The last bomb attack, like the previous ones, also has its political dimension. They are being committed at a time when Russia is entering a stage of transition of power--and possibly a change of the whole political system. This may give a rise to the temptation to use the already committed acts of terror in an internal struggle for power as a pretext to declare a state of emergency, which would serve as justification for a...postponement of...elections.... In this situation, the Kremlin...should send an unambiguous signal that all election deadlines will be met, and that nothing will happen to suspend the democratic procedures and the transition of power."

ROMANIA: "A Wave Of Sympathy"

Cristian Neches' editorial in sensationalist, opposition Libertatea declared (9/16): "Abroad, the shock produced by the apartment building explosions and the deaths of hundreds of inhabitants in their sleep has attracted a huge wave of...sympathy. However, this has not been able to undo the pending Russiagate investigations."

SPAIN: "Boris's Boiling Pot"

Liberal El Pais judged (9/19): "Russia's disintegration has become more profound and rapid than could have been imagined only a short while ago. The rule of law and respect for human rights are being submerged in the same storm-tossed sea that is sinking a venal and incompetent government, while a wave of bombings over the past few weeks has added a note of panic to the general sensation of systemic collapse.... The situation urgently demands Yeltsin's departure from office...although his term does not end until next summer. The intervening period seems an eternity at this point."

"Machiavelli Stalks Moscow"

Independent El Mundo speculated (9/19): "About 300 persons have lost their lives in the recent bombings in Moscow and other Russian cities.... The authorities have blamed Islamic radicals for the attacks, although there is not a smidgen of proof supporting this charge.... A few days ago, one Russian daily accused Boris Berezovsky, [a magnate closely associate with Yeltsin's 'family,'] of financing the Islamic guerrillas in Dagestan who are suspected of being behind the bombings. Another source suggests that the Kremlin, the security services, and Yeltsin's inner circle are behind the attacks...in order to create panic and justify suspending the forthcoming elections so that he can continue to govern with absolute powers.... Yeltsin has sufficiently demonstrated that his personal ambitions take precedence over all else."

"Terrorism In Russia"

Barcelona's centrist La Vanguardia commented (9/14): "The feeling that Russia cannot exit the tunnel in which it finds itself has been accentuated by a violent outbreak of terrorism.... Russia continues to occupy an important place in world affairs, maintains a large nuclear arsenal, and is a UNSC member. The West cannot remain indifferent to Russia's dangerous instability."

"Panic In Moscow"

Conservative ABC remarked (9/14): "Only a few months before legislative elections are scheduled, there are those who are interested in spreading terror so that a state of emergency can be imposed and the elections suspended. The brutality which appears to have Yeltsin in its grip could prove to be his trump card."

SWEDEN: "Terror In An Unstable Russia"

Independent, liberal Dagens Nyheter asserted (9/17): "It is not very encouraging to ponder what political consequences the bombs might have in a very unstable Russia. There is much fertile soil for increased repression.... In Russian politics, instability is a common phenomenon.... The country is in deep crisis. Distrust in the Kremlin is firmly rooted. The president's personal authority is severely damaged, and Yeltsin's assurances that 'we have all the necessary resources to wipe out terrorism,' is doubted."

SWITZERLAND: "Bombs In Moscow, Fighting In The Caucasus"

Reinhard Meier, foreign editor of leading Neue Zuercher Zeitung, held (9/14): "Moscow is not innocent with regard to Chechnya's internal radicalization and its sinister results. The Kremlin did not support President Mashadov, a moderate, after the armistice as it had promised. That encouraged the extremists whose wilder elements might now be sowing death and panic in the capital."

TURKEY: "Where's Russia?"

Gunduz Aktan wrote in intellectual Radikal (9/20): "Russia is still suffering from the economic crisis that struck the country last year. Neither free market economy nor democratization is in progress.... Moreover, Russia has to deal with the terrorism-combined civil war in Dagestan.... Russia is doomed to dissolve within its own borders, unless economic and democratic reforms are completed."

EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC

INDONESIA: "Terror Again On Rise In Russia; Bombings Escalate"

Leading, independent Kompas argued (9/15): "The situation has seemingly confused Yeltsin's administration.... The Russian citizenry's response to pressure from corrupt, repressive and authoritarian rulers is interesting to watch. It seems that Russian attitudes from an earlier era are little changed.... The culture of terrorism and anarchy is again intensifying."

JAPAN: "Russia Rocked By Terrorism"

An editorial in business-oriented Nihon Keizai observed (9/16): "President Yeltsin...faces two knotty tasks: concluding an internal war and stopping acts of terrorism.... Yeltsin must be fully responsible for the worsened public safety and the rampant criminal organizations in Russia.... Although Yeltsin is barred from running for a third term, rumor is already rife that he will try to continue his presidency by declaring a state of emergency and canceling the election.

"Anti-terrorist measures that the president might take cannot be used as a pretext for prolonging his presidency."

THAILAND: "Moscow Faces Terror Threat"

The lead editorial of the top-circulation, moderately conservative, English-language Bangkok Post commented (9/19): "The destruction and scope of the terrorism bears the recent terror trademarks of bin Laden and his supporters. There seem to be only two possibilities. One is that the wave of terrorism has been planned and financed by bin Laden and his ilk. The other is that native Russian extremists have found something to admire in the cowardly terrorist bombings."

VIETNAM: "War On Terrorism Announced"

The lead editorial of Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army), the newspaper of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, commented (9/20): "For Russia, the war on terrorism is but the fight for federal territorial integration.... That Russia failed to suppress the separatists in Chechnya has turned the breakaway republic into a spring-board for Muslim extremism to develop, resulting in today's terrorist attacks.... Although the race between Russian political forces is fierce nowadays, their unity in the determination to stop terrorism is clearly visible."

SOUTH ASIA

INDIA: "Outrage In Moscow"

The centrist Hindu offered this view (9/15): "The U.S. offer made by...William Cohen to help Russia fight terrorism, apart from being a very kind and welcome gesture, is a cheering indication of how close the two world powers have come since the end of the Cold War less than a decade ago.... There could be no two opinions about the fundamentalist evil, which has taken a heavy toll of lives in Moscow, having to be fought with determination.... The Russian government should make it unmistakably clear to the evil-minded...that they would be run down ruthlessly."

WESTERN HEMISPHERE

ARGENTINA: "Terrorism In Russia"

An editorial in daily-of-record La Nacion read (9/20) "There may be doubts about who is promoting the ferocious criminal assaults taking place in Russia.... It is not know whether those crimes should be attributed to Islamic fundamentalism or whether it is a domestic effort deployed by groups determined to destabilize the country, which has been in a political and economic crisis for a long time."

CANADA: "Renting The Kremlin"

Contributing Foreign Editor Eric Margolis pointed out in the conservative Ottawa Sun (9/13): "The White House has simply extended the time-honoured Arkansas style of sleazy money politics to dealing with Russia. Washington, Europe and the IMF fork over billions each year to the Kremlin. Yeltsin and his allies use the torrent of greenbacks to buy loyalty from key military and security leaders, reward loyal bureaucrats and feather their own nests. In short, Russia is being bribed to be good--which means maintaining a low profile abroad, letting the United States have its way, and keeping the Communists down.... Bribing enemies and paying off friends are time-honored tools of foreign policy.... America has managed to rent the Kremlin for a while, but it has not bought Russia.

"When Yeltsin and his coterie are finally ousted from power by nationalists, Communists or the army, there will be a fierce backlash against everything Western."

MEXICO: "Yeltsin Is Going Down"

Lisandro Otero observed in nationalist, pro-government Excelsior (9/13): "Yeltsin is going down even though he has survived another crisis. The brutal manner in which he has responded to peoples' standing for their self-determination in Dagestan and Chechnya is bringing international [opprobrium] upon him.... For many, Yeltsin is the gallant figure that headed Russia towards democracy.... But for others Yeltsin is only an opportunist without scruples, a person who lusts for power and took away the true chance for reform...under Gorbachev's leadership."

For more information, please contact:

U.S. Information Agency

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Telephone: (202) 619-4355

9/20/99

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