Besides, Moscow believes that it's necessary to work out single approaches in regard to the international community to terrorism. However, today the positions of most countries in this regard are different depending on who became the target of terrorists.
This is especially felt in the Middle East. On the one hand, the hostage taking in Beslan was unanimously condemned by Arab countries. Politicians who Sergei Lavrov met with in Cairo and Beirut expressed the most sincere condolences to the families of those killed and all Russian people.
In Mr. Obeid's words, "Lebanon has repeatedly countered attempts to deal a strike at the country's unity, sow discord between representatives of different faiths and nationalities." That's why Beirut very well understands the situation in Russia. Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri also expressed condolences to the Russian people. He stressed that the events in Beslan cannot be characterized other than "violation of all human norms."
On the other hand, the events in the region, especially terrorist acts in Iraq and Israel, are not interpreted so unambiguously. Someone believes people who blow up bombs are rebels and fighters for independence, someone thinks they are terrorists. The same interpretation can be seen in regard to Russia on the part of western media. That's why Moscow believes that in regard to terrorism, there can be no differences and alternative versions regardless of where terrorist acts are taking place, though the political context of events occurring in Russia, Iraq and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone is different.
Speaking to RIA Novosti's observer, a Russian diplomat who wished to remain anonymous compared the situations in Palestine and Chechnya. First of all, he noted that Chechnya is part of Russia, and it has no status of an occupied territory. Chechens are equal citizens of the country, they can freely move along the country, vote etc. That's why Moscow rejects the parallels Israel draws between Chechnya and Palestine. As a rule, Russian diplomats separate the specific political situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone from the problem of international terrorism. Russia and Israel have no contradictions on terrorism. However, Russian diplomats disagree with the fact that the Israeli leadership insists on the unilateral resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, refusing to conduct dialogue with Palestinians.
Besides, Moscow's permanent position is that the Mideastern settlement must be comprehensive and touch upon the Lebanese and Syrian directions as well as Palestinian. Without this, there will be no peace in the region, and the problem of international terrorism will not be resolved.
These are the issues Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will discuss with the Israeli leadership in Jerusalem on Monday.
