"We expected America to change its tone in Russia's respect after Mr. Bush won his second presidential term. Yet the USA recently voiced its indignation when Venezuela said it was buying a big arms batch from Russia-Washington is alarmed the weaponry may fall into terrorist hands," said Ms. Sliska.
Venezuela intends to import a considerable batch of Russian-manufactured automatics, its President Hugo Chavez announced, November last. Venezuela is not subject to whatever international sanctions, and Russia is not trespassing any restrictions with the prospective transaction, Moscow pointed out in the context.
The US Administration, however, has voiced its concern. Roeger Noriega, Undersecretary of State, for one, thinks the automatics may find their way to the many criminal groups active in Latin America.
"As for us Russians, we don't need to make any conjectures. We know whose money is being circulated in Chechnya, what color these notes are, and which banks they have come from. We, too, have a reason to bear grudges. Now, the people in Washington think they may impose whatever rules of the game and of conduct on the whole wide world," said the Duma First Vice-speaker.
She belongs to the United Russia parliamentary group. It represents Russia's most influential political party, with more than 300 Duma seats out of a total 450.
Ms. Sliska came down on the recent Ukrainian presidential election, too. "I led a Russian delegation to Ukraine. We saw democracy, American-fashion, thriving there-an ultimatum was facing the Ukrainian nation under a street crowd's pressure. Either [Victor] Yuschenko was to win presidency or the poll would never be recognized democratic. Meanwhile, voters' rights were evidently and blatantly violated there," she said.
"I would be loth to see those people pressuring the Russian top the same way-but then, we shall never put up with that.
"The Duma and the Federation Council [upper house] are able to offer a worthy reply to all reprimands and to mild blackmail by the US State Department. We have every chance to make diplomatic efforts and settle all problems. We don't need American sermons and reprimands to do that," she said in conclusion.
