Putin says Iraq terrorist "incubator" posing threat to world: report
Fri Dec 3, 2:44 AM ET World - AFP
NEW DELHI (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) has described Iraq (news - web sites) as a terrorist "incubator" that poses a threat to the world in an interview published in India where he is visiting.
"As had been the case with Afghanistan (news - web sites), Iraq turned into a major hotbed of terrorist threat, a firing ground and 'incubator' for militants," the Russian leader, who is on a three-day visit to India, told The Hindu newspaper.
"It is here (Iraq) and now that thousands of future terrorists are being recruited by terrorist networks. Those forces, most probably, can be employed in other regions of the world," he said.
Russia, which has faced a series of deadly attacks by separatists battling its rule in mainly Muslim Chechnya (news - web sites), opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq.
Putin said actions by the world community to tackle "the terrorist international" should "start from international law" and be concerted and united.
He said in written responses to questions posed by the newspaper that differences between global players over Iraq had led to a "significant slowdown" in developing international "anti-terrorist interaction."
Putin said developments in Iraq had proved that the unilateral action taken by the United States and its allies was counter-productive.
"Terrorist activities there are not diminishing while peaceful Iraqis and citizens of other states become victims of violence."
Putin said foreign leaders often asked him how countries' security and sovereignty could be guaranteed if global affairs were to be dealt with "according to the Iraqi model."
He said Moscow had repeatedly called "our American partners' attention to this reality. And eventually, they realised the need to reach a political settlement in Iraq using the UN mechanisms."
Moscow, he said, had always held that the Iraqi situation could only be settled through a nationwide dialogue to reach national reconciliation.
"The United Nations (news - web sites), already assisting the Iraqis to prepare for the first general elections, should play a meaningful role in achieving that objective."
While Putin called US President George Bush (news - web sites) a "statesman" and a reliable partner in the war against terrorism, he said this did not mean there were no differences between Moscow and Washington.
He added he believed the new Bush administration would bear in mind the lessons of Iraq when determining its future foreign policy.
Putin arrived in New Delhi early Friday for talks with leaders of India's new government amid expectations that the two former Cold War allies will bolster trade and military ties.
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