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Powell: Russia Pulling Back on Democratic Reform

Tue Sep 14, 2004 01:12 PM ET

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Powell Concerned By Russia

By Arshad Mohammed and Saul Hudson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday he was concerned that sweeping political changes to fight terrorism proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin would erode Russia's democratic reforms.

"In effect this is pulling back on some of the democratic reforms," Powell told Reuters. "We have concerns about it and we want to discuss them with the Russians."

The Kremlin leader said on Monday he wanted a new election law to limit the number of political parties and to have full control on nominating regional leaders to combat terrorism following the bloody Beslan school siege in southern Russia.

Critics immediately accused Putin exploiting the grisly siege, in which at least 327 hostages died, to amass power.

While expressing sympathy for Putin's desire to go after "terrorists" following the Beslan crisis, the bombing of two Russian aircraft and a Moscow subway bombing in the last month, Powell said Russia must balance this with democratic freedoms.

"We understand the need to fight against terrorism ... but in an attempt to go after terrorists I think one has to strike a proper balance to make sure that you don't move in a direction that takes you away from the democratic reforms or the democratic process," he said.

Washington has at times been accused of turning a blind eye to widespread concerns the Kremlin was becoming increasingly autocratic, notably by muting its criticism of the imprisonment and trial of the former chairman of the Yukos oil company.

But Powell delivered an unusually blunt message to the Kremlin in January by expressing concern about Russia's democracy and its commitment to the rule of law in an opinion piece published in the newspaper Izvestia.

"It would be not the best course of action to move in a direction which (would) be seen by the international community as moving toward the rear with respect to democratic reforms," Powell said on Tuesday.

Since the Beslan tragedy, in which children made up half of the victims, Washington has played down its long-standing demand Russia seek a political settlement in Chechnya, where a brutal conflict has raged between Moscow and Chechen separatists for 10 years.

Putin last week rejected talks with the rebels and taunted Washington by saying: "Why don't you meet Osama bin Laden, invite him to Brussels or to the White House and engage in talks, ask him what he wants and give it to him so he leaves you in peace?"

"I think the Russians believe that ultimately a political solution has to be found. ... But when you are faced with a terrible tragedy such as they were faced with in Beslan what you have to focus on is making sure you have identified who these murderers are, who these terrorists are and go after them," Powell said.

"There can be no political solution or political dialogue with terrorists (or) murderers ... at the same time you have to find a balance between fighting terrorism in an aggressive way and also making sure that you don't undercut the institutions of state that are based on the foundation of democracy."

全国人大外委会负责人就美“支持香港自由”决议案发表谈话

香港是中国的香港，香港事务是中国的内部事务。美国众议院通过的所谓“支持香港自由”的决议案，是对中国内政的干涉，我们决不能接受。

保持香港的长期繁荣和稳定，不仅符合包括香港同胞在内的中国人民的利益，也符合把香港作为重要投资地区的美国的利益。我们强烈呼吁美国国会从中美两国关系的大局出发，不要再做出有损中美关系和香港繁荣稳定的事情。

外交部对美通过“支持香港自由”议案表示强烈不满

新华网北京９月１４日电 中国外交部１４日对美国国会通过一干预香港事务的决议案表示强烈不满和坚决反对。

美国国会众议院１３日通过了所谓“支持香港自由”决议案。对于美国国会这一错误做法，中国外交部表示强烈不满和坚决反对，美国国会众议院一再插手香港事务，干预中国内政，不仅损害香港的长期繁荣稳定和中美关系，也必将损害美国自身的利益。（完）

副外长周文重会见凯利：坚决反对美通过“支持香港自由”决议案

外交部副部长周文重１４日在北京会见来华磋商的美国负责东亚事务的助理国务卿凯利，就美国国会众议院１３日通过所谓“支持香港自由”的决议案表示强烈不满和坚决反对，敦促美方停止利用香港问题干涉中国内政。

外交部发言人孔泉就美国通过“支持香港自由”决议案发表谈话

9月13日，美国国会众议院通过了所谓“支持香港自由”决议案。该决议案罔顾事实，肆意歪曲香港基本法，挑拨香港居民与中央政府和特区政府的关系，粗暴干涉香港事务和中国的内政。对于美国国会众议院的这一错误做法，我们表示强烈不满和坚决反对。

外交部驻港公署新闻发言人就美国通过“支持香港自由”决议案发表谈话

中国外交部驻港公署新闻发言人１４日就美国国会众议院通过所谓“支持香港自由”决议案发表谈话。

发言人说，美国国会众议院在考克斯等个别反华议员的鼓动下，通过了所谓“支持香港自由”决议案，这是对中国内政和香港特别行政区事务的粗暴干涉，我们对此表示坚决反对。