| Information for the “narrow circle” End. Start on page 1 In addition, several months ago it was known that on June 16 in Vienna, at a meeting of the IAEA Board of Supervisory Governors, a report on the inspection of Iranian nuclear facilities would be presented, which should confirm or refute suspicions that Tehran is preparing to create WMD. The likelihood that the verdict will not be in favor of Tehran seems very high to Russian experts. Otherwise, President Putin would not have signed the above-mentioned G8 statement in Evian and would not have expressed the hope that by June 16 Iran would decide to sign an additional protocol with the IAEA granting the right to conduct inspections at all of its nuclear facilities without exception. Among other decisions of the summit, Putin highlighted the creation within the G8 of a Counter-Terrorism Action Group (CTG), which will act in coordination with the Anti-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council. From the words of the Russian president it follows that Moscow’s sphere of responsibility in this direction will be the CIS space and actions within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The G8’s decision for the first time “to take specific measures to counter the use of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) against civil aviation” also attracted attention.” It is difficult to say what these measures will be. But if we consider that the lion’s share of MANPADS in the hands of terrorists were produced in the USSR or Russia, then Moscow’s solid role in taking such measures is more than obvious. The words of the Russian president in explanation of US actions in Iraq sounded unexpectedly frank. The actions of the States, as it turned out, were caused by “wounded national pride and the need to assert oneself” as a result of the terrorist attacks committed against America. “And this, of course, must be understood,” Putin added. Paying tribute to President Bush, who, in response to “our tough position on Iraq, could have been offended and not come to St. Petersburg, but behaved like a serious politician,” Putin noted: “It would be stupid on our part not to see these signs, to neglect them and push them away outstretched hand, puff out your cheeks and turn away.” This impromptu statement by the Russian president is worth a lot. After all, it means that Moscow in Evian has completely returned to the strategic choice it made after September 11 - Russia’s place is still more likely in the West than in the East. Arkady DUBNOV, Evian - Moscow |
