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WMD real threat requires adequate response - Gen Mylnikov
By Vladimir Zainetdinov
ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 17, 2005 Wednesday 9:25 AM Eastern Time
AKTAU, Kazakhstan, August 17 -- Chief of the CIS Anti-Terrorist
Centre Colonel-General Boris Mylnikov called for searching for new
ways and methods to step up special services' efforts in the fight
against terrorism.
He spoke at the opening of an anti-terrorist command staff exercise
in the Caspian region.
Mylnikov said on Wednesday, "The threat is very real that terrorists
can use weapons of mass destruction." "Thus, special services,
security agencies and law-enforcement agencies should join efforts
to search for new ways and methods to adequately react on the threat
posed by international terrorism."
At present, the CIS Anti-Terrorist Centre is working on a list of
terrorist and extremist organisations, which act in the territory
of CIS countries. "The list is being finalised by CIS security and
special services," he added.
At the same time, Mylnikov noted, "Different approaches towards this
problem and the lack of universal legislative mechanisms prevent
us from making up a global list to be approved by the international
community."
The threat posed by terrorism to CIS states comes from Afghanistan,
he said. "The situation in the country (Afghanistan) is quite far
from being stable due to the Moslem world's reaction on the events
in Iraq. The situation in the country may explode on any time,"
Mylnikov said.
Instability in Afghanistan and growing activity by terrorist
organisations complicate the situation in Central Asia, Mylnikov said.
The Afghan society is on the brink of another civil war and this may
have adverse effects on the situation in the whole region of Central
Asia," Mylnikov said.
He recalled that secret services back in 2002 warned that the leaders
of Al-Qaeda and Taliban had regrouped their forces with the aim to
destabilize situations in Central Asian countries. In their efforts
they have extensively used the terrorist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir,
banned in many countries.
"Last May's unrest in the Uzbek city of Andijan was a confirmation of
this. As it has been established, Hizb ut-Tahrir militants participated
in violence there that claimed 176 lives," the chief of the CIS
Anti-Terrorist Centre said.
Taking part in the anti-terrorist exercise in the Caspian are the
chiefs of anti-terrorist units and secret services from Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as officials from the Russian
Emergency Situations Ministry, the Collective Security Treaty
Organisation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the CIS
anti-aircraft defence allied command.
Officials from the Iranian Security Ministry attend the exercise in
the capacity of observers for the first time.
By Vladimir Zainetdinov
ITAR-TASS News Agency
August 17, 2005 Wednesday 9:25 AM Eastern Time
AKTAU, Kazakhstan, August 17 -- Chief of the CIS Anti-Terrorist
Centre Colonel-General Boris Mylnikov called for searching for new
ways and methods to step up special services' efforts in the fight
against terrorism.
He spoke at the opening of an anti-terrorist command staff exercise
in the Caspian region.
Mylnikov said on Wednesday, "The threat is very real that terrorists
can use weapons of mass destruction." "Thus, special services,
security agencies and law-enforcement agencies should join efforts
to search for new ways and methods to adequately react on the threat
posed by international terrorism."
At present, the CIS Anti-Terrorist Centre is working on a list of
terrorist and extremist organisations, which act in the territory
of CIS countries. "The list is being finalised by CIS security and
special services," he added.
At the same time, Mylnikov noted, "Different approaches towards this
problem and the lack of universal legislative mechanisms prevent
us from making up a global list to be approved by the international
community."
The threat posed by terrorism to CIS states comes from Afghanistan,
he said. "The situation in the country (Afghanistan) is quite far
from being stable due to the Moslem world's reaction on the events
in Iraq. The situation in the country may explode on any time,"
Mylnikov said.
Instability in Afghanistan and growing activity by terrorist
organisations complicate the situation in Central Asia, Mylnikov said.
The Afghan society is on the brink of another civil war and this may
have adverse effects on the situation in the whole region of Central
Asia," Mylnikov said.
He recalled that secret services back in 2002 warned that the leaders
of Al-Qaeda and Taliban had regrouped their forces with the aim to
destabilize situations in Central Asian countries. In their efforts
they have extensively used the terrorist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir,
banned in many countries.
"Last May's unrest in the Uzbek city of Andijan was a confirmation of
this. As it has been established, Hizb ut-Tahrir militants participated
in violence there that claimed 176 lives," the chief of the CIS
Anti-Terrorist Centre said.
Taking part in the anti-terrorist exercise in the Caspian are the
chiefs of anti-terrorist units and secret services from Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as officials from the Russian
Emergency Situations Ministry, the Collective Security Treaty
Organisation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the CIS
anti-aircraft defence allied command.
Officials from the Iranian Security Ministry attend the exercise in
the capacity of observers for the first time.