BESLAN, Russia, 8 September 2004 — Russian President Vladimir Putin has forcefully ruled out any negotiations with Chechen separatists following the deaths of more than 350 people in a hostage-taking crisis in southern Russia, The Guardian newspaper reported yesterday. He also ruled out a public inquiry into the disaster.
“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? Why don’t you do that?” The Guardian quoted Putin as saying late Monday in a lengthy meeting with foreign journalists and academics at his country home outside Moscow. “You find it possible to set some limitations in your dealings with these people, so why should we talk to people who are child killers?
“No one has a moral right to tell us to talk to child killers,” The Guardian quoted him as saying.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but Margaret Thatcher, whom I’ve met more than once, said: ‘A man who comes out into the street to kill other people must himself be killed,”’ he was quoted as saying.
While ruling out a public inquiry, Putin said there would be an internal review. “I want to establish the chronicle of events and find out who is responsible and might be punished,” he was quoted as saying.
Putin said Russian forces had been involved in human rights violations, but these were not his policy. “In war there are ugly processes which have their own logic,” he said, and denied any connection between Russian policy and the tragedy at the school.
“Just imagine that people who shoot children in the back came to power anywhere on our planet. Just ask yourself that, and you will have no more questions about our policy in Chechnya,” he was quoted as saying.
He insisted that Chechnya was a vital part of Russian territory, and that his government would pursue a political solution.
