Letter to the Editor-Piracy and terrorism cannot be appeased |25 May 2010

The United Nations Security Council recently adopted the appropriate Russian-drafted resolution. It asks the secretary-general to make prompt suggestions on what options there are to provide a reliable, clear and transparent mechanism for the international legal prosecution of people involved in piracy. This lacuna in the international law should be closed as soon as possible.

In a recent telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gave a detailed briefing on Russia's initiative to establish an international tribunal to try cases of piracy at sea.

Mr Obama expressed interest in continued cooperation on developing effective international law mechanisms that would provide solutions to this pressing international issue.

The same can be said about another urgent matter of today’s politics – combating terrorism.
As you are aware, ruthless terrorist acts executed in March in Moscow’s subway (40 people dead and many more wounded) were carried out by female suicide bombers linked to terrorist groups in the northern Caucasus region of Russia.

This crime, targeted at civilians including women and children, is a clear manifestation of the atrocious and senselessly violent nature of terrorism. Nevertheless, we observe persistent attempts by the terrorists themselves and, astonishingly and regrettably, by certain international media, to present female terrorists as “heroic freedom-fighters” and their male sponsors as “rebels” against so-called “foreign occupation” and “violation of human rights” by the government of the Chechen Republic.

In the first place, it is necessary to understand that terrorism, whatever clothes it wears, or of whatever gender, is always a crime punishable by law and cannot be justified for any reason. This is recognised by the entire world community and affirmed by the UN Security Council and General Assembly. We must also be conscious of the ruthless psychological methods of terrorism indoctrination by turning women into suicide-terrorists.

Neither in the 1990s nor in the early 2000s was there any such phenomenon in Russia as female suicide bombers. But its appearance is not accidental. What brought about this barbarism is obviously not home-bred but imported to Russia from outside by those who finance international terrorism.

Piracy around Seychelles also appeared only two years ago, and thanks to outside funding and support proved to be a profitable business based on human suffering.

It is impossible to resolve the problem of piracy or terrorism through appeasement of pirates or terrorists or through “diplomatic negotiations” with them. Piracy, like terrorist acts, should be condemned in all forms and manifestations.
Prevention of piracy and terrorism is as important as the repression of piracy and terrorism, and their financing.

Only concerted efforts by all members of the international community and a clear stand on piracy and terrorism, free of double standards, can put an end to these evils. That is what we call for in Russia to combat new challenges and threats.

Mikhail Kalinin,
Russian ambassador to
the Republic of Seychelles