With this coalition forming up, the terrorists will get their azz kicked....they will feel the wrath....you betcha
Putin says attacks on Afghanistan could be successful, praises Blair
MOSCOW, Oct 04, 2001 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- Russian President Vladimir
Putin said Thursday he had no doubt that the U.S.-led military action in
Afghanistan could be successful and hailed visiting British Prime Minister Tony
Blair's role in warming ties between Moscow and the West.
"We shall see how effective the actions of the international anti-terrorist
coalition will be after such actions become a reality," Putin said. "But I don't
have a grain of doubt that they can be effective indeed."
Putin dismissed concerns that the military action in Afghanistan could hurt
civilians, saying the action's planners were taking due care of their safety and
adding that civilians had already been suffering under rigid Taliban rule.
"If there are victims, terrorists who have made civilians their hostages are to
be blamed for that," he added.
Putin last week expressed strong support for the U.S.-led coalition, offering
Russian airspace for humanitarian flights and pledging to provide Afghanistan's
opposition forces battling the ruling Taliban militia with weapons and
equipment.
He said Thursday that Russia might offer further assistance to the coalition
depending on the "level and character of relations with our partners."
Blair arrived in Russia on a quick visit after a speech in the British
Parliament where he said there was "absolutely no doubt" that Osama bin Laden
was behind the terror attacks on New York and Washington.
After speaking to Putin in the Kremlin, Blair said that Russia's move to support
the international coalition against terror had changed the face of the world.
"When we are battling something like the issue of international terrorism and
also on many other issues, too, we need Russia there as a partner and a friend
and that is the relationship today," Blair told a news conference.
"The fact that we have Russia today standing alongside the other countries of
the world ... and giving its strong support to action against acts of terrorism
that took place in the United States of America that is living proof, visible
proof of the changed world in which we live," he said.
Blair said that right from the very first meeting of his eight meetings with
Putin he recognized him as "someone who had the vision and imagination to set
the past aside and build new relationship for the future."
Putin, in turn, said that Blair along with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder
were to be credited for their efforts to improve ties with Russia at a time when
"the Western public wasn't as friendly toward Russia as now."
"Thanks to the stance taken by those leaders, the West has acquired in Russia a
reliable partner in the struggle against international terrorism," Putin said.
The Interfax news agency reported that Blair would leave Moscow on Friday
morning and head to Pakistan. Blair's office refused to say when the prime
minister would return to London, and would not comment on reports that he also
would visit Pakistan and possibly Oman.
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2001 Associated Press, All rights reserved
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