"After the inhuman act in Beslan, it is obvious that those beasts, and I cannot call them people, who perpetrated terror acts in Madrid and Russia, are cast in the same mould," the official said during his meeting with Council of Europe commissioner on human rights Alvaro Gil-Robles.
In this connection the world community is faced with a complicated problem. It goes without saying that it is necessary to counteract the threat of terrorism by all means, including power structures. "In order to ensure man's first and foremost right - a right to life. It requires international consolidation to work out uniform standards in approach to terrorism, not in word, but in deed, on the one hand, and compliance with international rules, the Constitution and human rights, on the other hand," the minister remarked. And this is not only the problem of Russia, he added.
"If questions occur, I am ready to give a detailed description of actions the Ministry of Defence carried out in Chechnya. I do not want to exaggerate, not everything is all right there," Ivanov said.
However, the number of offences by servicemen in Chechnya has declined. "At least, we do not conduct large scale operations on Chechen territory. The army has performed its main task, with large terrorist groups destroyed or dispersed. In this connection the Armed Forces contingent in Chechnya has significantly decreased," the Minister of Defence noted.
Permanently located in Chechnya is the 42nd motor rifle division of the Ministry of Defence totalling 15,000 men. Besides, Special Forces detachments, including Russian citizens living in Chechnya, are operating effectively there," the minister said.
During the Anti-terrorist operation in Chechnya mercenaries from over 40 countries were killed. "Yesterday another terrorist group wasdestroyed in the mountains. Those were nationals of Turkey," the minister said pointing out that Turks are often found in the ranks of mercenaries in Chechnya.
Alvaro Gil-Robles responded in his turn "the world community goes along with Russian people in the fight against terrorism."
"Being democrats, we observe the law and human rights in our fight against terrorism. Therein lies our strength, in distinction from terrorists," Robles said.
"International cooperation in this matter is of great importance, and there are no obstacles to supporting the fight against terrorism in the open. However, even in this fight human rights must be observed," Robles underlined.
