Military

DATE=10/5/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-281388

TITLE=RUSSIA / BLAIR (L)

BYLINE=REBECCA SANTANA

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: British Prime Minister Tony Blair is traveling to Pakistan following a stop in Moscow, where he praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for his role in building a coalition to fight terrorism. V-O-A's Rebecca Santana reports from Moscow.

TEXT: During his Russia visit, Mr. Blair praised the Russian leader for what he called his "strength" in dealing with the terrorist attacks of September 11th. After meeting with Mr. Putin in the Kremlin Thursday evening, Mr. Blair said this was a new opportunity for the West and Russia to move beyond the animosities left over after the end of the Cold War.

Mr. Putin thanked the British prime minister saying he was a key figure in helping improve relations between Russia and the West, which allowed Russia to become, as Mr. Putin called it, "a reliable partner in the struggle against international terrorism."

Thursday, The British leader said there is overwhelming evidence that terror suspect Osama bin Laden was involved in the September 11th attacks against the United States.

During a news conference Thursday evening, the Russian leader said he was in complete agreement with Mr. Blair. Both men also emphasized that humanitarian aid to the Afghan people should be a top priority.

Mr. Blair's visit to Moscow came at the same time that Russian officials were investigating an airplane crash in the Black Sea. Siberia Airlines flight 1812 went down on Thursday following a midair explosion. Russian officials say they are looking at terrorism as a possible explanation. All 77 people on board the flight are presumed dead.

On Thursday, unnamed Pentagon officials said the Russian plane flying from Israel to the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, was accidentally shot down by the Ukrainian military, which was carrying out a missile exercise in the area.

President Putin dismissed this theory, saying that he had received reassurances from Ukraine that the weapons they were using did not have the range to shoot down the airliner. Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma vehemently denied that Ukraine had anything to do with the plane's crash.

For security reasons, British officials have not given out any information about Mr. Blair's travel plans, but the British press reports that after Pakistan he will fly to Oman where 20-thousand British troops are taking part in long-planned training maneuvers. (Signed)

NEB/GL/KL/KBK