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Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 March 2000 Issue No. 472 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 March 2000 Issue No. 472
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Focus Books Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Ivanov under fire
By Dina Ezzat
A sightseeing trip to southern Egypt brought a pleasant end to an otherwise tense visit for Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. The visit was characterised by both official and public anger regarding Russian policies in Chechnya.
Ivanov (left), at a meeting with President MubarakHours after Ivanov arrived last Friday, university students in Cairo and Alexandria staged protests to demonstrate outrage over the brutal Russian handling of the secessionists of Chechnya.
"Russian foreign minister, you are not welcome," shouted the students. Leaflets conveying the same message were also distributed on university campuses.
"I am surprised that we have not withdrawn our ambassador in Russia. Muslims are being massacred and we, the country of Al-Azhar, are not doing anything about it. How could we leave Muslim blood to be shed like that?" said a taxi driver as he drove outside the Nile-side headquarters of the Foreign Ministry. He added, "Why should this man [Ivanov] be here?"
His sentiment is typical of the widespread condemnation found in public opinion on Chechnya. Reported Russian atrocities against Muslims in Chechnya have aroused much resentment in this country.
In talks with Foreign Minister Amr Moussa, and in a subsequent joint news conference, Ivanov was at pains to explain Russia's controversial actions in Chechnya. Three out of five questions addressed by reporters to Ivanov focused on Chechnya. He was asked: "When will you end your war against the Muslims of Chechnya?" and "How on earth can you think you can retain your traditional role as a friend to the Arabs when you are killing Muslims in Chechnya in cold blood, just like you encouraged the Serbs to kill Muslims in Kosovo?"
"These questions explain the public sentiment on the problem [of Chechnya], which has been a major part of our talks ... We are very upset about the current situation, and we are very keen to see an end to the military operations [in Chechnya] and see calm restored," Moussa commented.
Ivanov appeared to be angry and nervous as he responded to the questions. His interpreter had a hard time, taking notes of his long and defensive answers.
"I informed the Egyptian side that the military operations, which are part of an inclusive operation to suppress terrorism in Chechnya, have nearly been completed and that efforts will focus on reaching a political settlement and addressing the humanitarian situation there," Ivanov said.
According to the Ivanov, who insisted that he was "not trying to justify anything," the situation in Chechnya should not be judged by reports broadcast by the satellite television networks because many of them are "fabricated".
Ivanov claimed that a videotape depicting violence by Russian troops in Chechnya had been fabricated by the German channel that released it, alleging that the channel had "admitted to its involvement in fabricating" the tape. The footage was aired on CNN -- reason enough, according to Ivanov, that "the situation in Chechnya should not be judged by what is broadcast by CNN."
"We were very clear that the current situation in Chechnya is worrying," commented an Egyptian diplomatic source. "But it is also important to say that we are not questioning Russian authority over Chechnyan territory."
Ivanov, blaming the conflict in Chechnya on terrorism -- "which is the reason behind civilian casualties," he said -- reminded Egyptians that "you too have suffered from this before."
Moussa did not seem impressed with the analogy. "What is happening in Chechnya cannot be compared to anything that is happening in any country in this [Arab] world," Moussa said. He added, "the situation in Chechnya has many complicated political and historical facets. These should be taken in consideration while trying to reach a political settlement."
Ivanov, who also met with Esmat Abdel-Meguid, secretary general of the Arab League, has invited an Arab League delegation to monitor actions in the breakaway republic. Abdel-Meguid said he would consider the invitation.
Apart from Chechnya, Ivanov's talks in Cairo touched on a wide range of issues, including the current stalemate in the Arab-Israeli peace process, the situation in Iraq and the future of the Middle East.
Said Moussa: "As a co-sponsor of the Middle East peace process, and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia has to [act] ... What is going on in Chechnya has to be brought to an end."
