Russia says UN, NATO calls for Uzbek probe 'unfair'Presumably Russia would like the US to replicate its reprehensible mid-1990's stance on Chechnya and say that this is Uzbekistan's "internal affair."
Wed May 25, 2005 8:52 AM ET
ARE, Sweden (Reuters) - Russia on Wednesday denounced as unfair a call by the United Nations and NATO for an international investigation into a military crackdown in Uzbekistan, in which hundreds of people may have died.
Moscow backs the Uzbek government in blaming the bloodshed in the town of Andizhan earlier this month on radical Islamists. [...]
"Putting forward a demand for an international investigation as an ultimatum is neither appropriate nor fair," said Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Chizhov at a meeting of NATO countries and partner states in Sweden. [...]
"We are gathered here as partners and partnership means trust. If one partner says it can carry out an investigation itself, that should be respected," Chizhov told reporters.
"The countries calling for an international investigation recently competed with each other hailing Uzbekistan's role as a key player in the global anti-terrorist coalition. Now they realize who they were dealing with," he said.
But it will be interesting to see whether the last sentences quoted are much talked about - this Russian Deputy Foreign Minister seems to be saying, "lay off the Uzbeks, you knew Karimov was capable of this and so did we." He may have a point, but at least the West is half-heartedly demanding an investigation. Russia, on the other hand, appears to be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with China in its response to the events in Andijan.
4 comments:
Wow, great blog. I am impressed with the thought and work you have put into this.
hey lyndon where have you been? so much interesting things are going on last time ) khodorkowsky for example and light shutdown in Moscow - btw, did it affect you?
"Am I am Pundit" - thanks, I appreciate your kind words. It's generally been more work than thought, although I try to employ some of the latter sometimes as well.
Yes, no doubt Russian should have invaded Uzbekistan to impose democracy. The Uzbeks would have greeted Russian troops with flowers.
Post a Comment