MOSCOW, 5 September 2004 — Russia yesterday described as “blasphemous” a request by the European Union for an explanation to the bloody end to the mass hostage seizure.
In a statement in the name of the presidency of the 25-nation EU, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said Friday that all countries should work together to stop such tragedies. “But we also would like to know from the Russian authorities how this tragedy could have happened,” he added.
The Russian Foreign Ministry reacted with outrage.
“Mr. Bot’s elaborations are an absolute contrast with the wide international support and solidarity with Russia in these tragic days,” the ministry statement said.
“Inappropriate statements by the Dutch minister look odious ... and blasphemous,” it added. “We expect explanations from the Dutch side.”
Interfax news agency later said that the Dutch ambassador had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry over Bot’s statement.
World leaders voiced revulsion and outrage at the bloody end to the crisis, calling it a tragedy which resulted from “depraved” and “evil” terrorist acts.
US President George W. Bush, speaking days before the third anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, said the hostage-taking was “another grim reminder” of terrorist tactics and mourned the loss of life in the raid to end the standoff.
“We stand with the people of Russia, we send them our thoughts and prayers in this terrible situation,” he said late Friday.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard condemned the hostage-takers as depraved, obscene and cruel. Targeting children, he said, “represents the ultimate depravity of terrorist activity”.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela expressed outrage, calling the hostage-taking “inhumane and barbaric”.
“The killing of innocent children cannot be justified under any circumstances, and especially not for political reasons,” he said.
Iran’s President Mohammad Khatami cabled his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to condemn the hostage bloodbath, saying he was filled with “sadness and remorse”.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns these terrorist actions which are contrary to the humane teachings of Islam,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Khatami as saying.
