Intelligence

PM scolds Russia over terror plans

TheStar.com - PM scolds Russia over terror plans

Don't abandon democracy, he says in Moscow

Martin, Putin meet to discuss rights, Arctic

BRUCE CAMPION-SMITH
OTTAWA BUREAU

MOSCOW—Russia's crackdown on terror can't be allowed to trample human rights or restrict democratic freedoms, Prime Minister Paul Martin says.

Martin says he'll be taking that strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin when the two leaders meet today at the Kremlin for a bilateral meeting and a working lunch.

At the end of the meeting, Putin and Martin are expected to release a joint statement condemning terrorism.

But going into today's session with the Russian leader, Martin admits he's troubled by recent "anti-terror" proposals that will concentrate powers in Putin's office.

It's a topic he pushed last night when he met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.

"The fight against terrorism will only be won if in fact the rights of individuals are respected at the same time," Martin told reporters after the meeting.

Martin said it's vital that other countries understand the terrorism threat that confronts Russia.

"But at the same time, we want to be very clear as to our perspective on freedom of action, freedom of expression. In fact, unequivocal," he said.

In recent months, Russia has been hit by the bombings of two Russian airliners, a suicide attack at a Moscow subway, and in the most tragic incident, an attack on a school in Beslan that killed 330 hostages, half of them children.

In the wake of the attacks, Putin has proposed legislation that would eliminate popularly elected governors and overhaul the way Russians elect their parliament, moves that would boost federal authority and reduce local autonomy.

Putin has defended the moves, saying they're necessary to strengthen the executive branch and make it more capable of fighting terror.

Critics say it's a blow to democracy. And there have been complaints that free speech and the media are being suppressed.

Recalling the debate over Canada's own anti-terror laws, enacted after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, Martin admits finding the right balance is not always easy.

"There is going to be constant battle in terms of where the balance lies. It is my view, and it is the Canadian view, that the balance has got to be on the side of freedom of the individual."

Martin sidestepped the question of whether he thought Russia's proposed reforms go too far. "I'm not making a judgment," he said.

`The fight against terrorism will only be won if the rights of individuals are respected'

Prime Minister Paul Martin

"What's important at the present time is that the international community raise these issues and make very, very clear that these are important issues," the Prime Minister said.

In raising the concern with the Russians, Martin echoes the worries of other leaders who have warned that Russia's new crackdown on terrorism risks tramples on human rights.

More than 100 prominent international political and cultural figures recently wrote an open letter to the heads of Western governments complaining of anti-democratic trends in Russia.

The letters charges that Putin has "systematically undercut the freedom and independence of the press, destroyed the checks and balances in the Russian federal system, (and) arbitrarily imprisoned both real and imagined political rivals.

"We must speak the truth about Russia," it says. "We owe it to the victims of Beslan and the tens of thousands of Russian democrats who are still fighting to preserve democracy and human freedom in their country."

Those who signed it include former Czech president Vaclav Havel, U.S. senators John McCain and Joseph Biden Jr. and former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt.

Martin said he brought up the letter with Fradkov last night and that the Russians refuted the point with a "a very strong argument in terms of freedom of expression, in terms of democratic rights."

This morning, Martin's wife Sheila will visit victims of the terror in Russia. At Hospital Number 9, she'll spend time with two boys, a girl and an adult injured in the Beslan attack and give them Roots sweaters, socks, hats and scarves.

This afternoon, she will visit newly opened School 142, the first school in Russia to integrate special-needs children with other students, thanks in part to funding from the Canadian International Development Agency.

The Prime Minister also used a news conference last night to signal his strong commitment to work with the Russians to safeguard the Arctic region against pollution and plundering of its resources.

Warning that global warming will bring "staggering" changes to the Arctic over the next 15 to 20 years, he said northern nations need to act together to protect the fragile ecosystem.

One of the big reasons for his visit to Moscow was to enlist Russia's help, he said.

As more and more natural resources are discovered in the North, it faces an invasion from "everybody who thinks they have a right to those."

But he warned that Canada would protect its interests in the North. "The Canadian Arctic is the Canadian Arctic. We are going to exercise our sovereignty in every way, shape or form."

Future generations "will not forgive us" if Canada does not look after the northern region.

During his trip, Martin will also travel to Paris for a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, and to Budapest, Hungary, to attend the Progressive Governance Summit, a gathering of left-of-centre world leaders.

with files from canadian press

October 12, 2004 at 08:17 AM in Russia | Permalink | TrackBack (0) | Top of page | Blog Home