Translated from Greek
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Ta Nea ( Athens ) 22 February 2002
Interview with former Russian Prime Minister Gevgeniy Primakov to
correspondent Panayis G. Galiatsatos in Athens
Asked whether he intends to return to active politics,
Gevgeniy Primakov answers with a smile that confuses his interlocutor:
"But I do not feel that I have abandoned politics.
Typically, yes, I am outside politics but I maintain my relations and
they ask for my opinion."
Indeed his mobile phone rang as soon as his plane landed in Athens.
Vladimir Putin was at the other end of the line, possibly seeking his
advice on the Middle East issue.
Primakov is currently Chairman of the Russian Economic and
Industrial
Chamber. During the past 15 years Primakov was in the higher authority
levels. He served as Gorbachev's adviser on foreign policy issues, an
alternate Politburo member, the Foreign Minister, and the Prime
Minister.
He enjoys politics without having to suffer its exhaustive working
hours. He came to Athens to present his book "Unknown Russia," which
was published by Courier Publishing company. This is a book that sheds
light on the Russian leadership's stance from the Gulf war until Kosovo
and tries to explain the effect that the collapse of the Russian social
and economic structures had on its policy.
Primakov handled the Kosovo issues from very close. He was in
charge of the peacekeeping process. He went to Belgrade and is under
the impression that Milosevic did everything possible to stop the war.
He intends to testify as a witness for the defense if he is asked. He
remains reserved on the US presence in Central Asia and he is certain
that Russia will not follow the United States in Iraq.
(Galiatsatos) Do you believe it is correct that Milosevic is being
tried?
(Primakov) I do not consider this trial as correct. This is why I
said in Paris that I would have been willing to testify, at least on the
points on which I was an eyewitness.
(Galiatsatos) What do you believe about his moves in Kosovo?
(Primakov) I do not support his policy completely. I believe it
was
wrong for him to cancel Kosovo's autonomy. He should have talked
earlier with Rugova's moderates. But these do not justify the trial of
a state leader. It was not Milosevic who caused Yugoslavia's bombing.
And he did what he was asked to stop the war. I can testify as a
witness that he made many concessions so that the bombings would stop. I
saw that when I went to Belgrade after French President Jacques Chirac
asked me to. And Milosevic is not responsible for the fact that nearly
all Serbs abandoned Kosovo.
(Galiatsatos) After 11 September the United States seems to be
permanently installed in Central Asia. Is this in Russia's interest?
(Primakov) You spoke about a permanent US presence. The danger
exists but it is not yet a reality. The United States assured that its
presence is related to the Afghanistan war exclusively. If it stays in
Central Asia permanently it will not be very good for Russia, China, or
India.
(Galiatsatos) International analysts speak about a "change of
alliances."
(Primakov) It is not like that. When Russia supported the United
States in the operation against terrorism in Afghanistan. There were
sentimental reasons as everyone got scared after 11 September. No one
doubts that people changed after the terrorist attack in New York and
that a front against terrorism must be established. But, we must not
forget that the Taliban regime threatened our allies in Central Asia
directly and had connections in Chechnya. Russia based in stance on
real events and there must be no doubts. This does not mean that
Russia
will follow the United States on all issues.
(Galiatsatos) Do you mean Iraq?
(Primakov) The United States refers to three countries as the "Axis
of Evil." Russia downright opposes the division of the world into such
categories. If the United States attacks one of these countries then I
am absolutely certain that Russia will not support it. Thus, the
alliances have not changed. There is a situation that unites us and
our
interests coincide. We want good relations with the United States.
This does not mean that we will not differentiate our stance, that we
will not follow our policy.
Impose a Solution on the Palestinian Issue
Gevgeniy Primakov is an expert on Middle East issues. He was head
of the Eastern Studies Institute and a KGB associate. He believes that
at this phase the Middle East issue can only be resolved from the
outside.
(Galiatsatos) How do you assess the situation?
(Primakov) We are talking about a war. We owe it to Sharon who
wants to undermine the Palestinian state. And there will be no
solution
if we leave the two sides alone.
(Galiatsatos) What do you think should be done?
(Primakov) I believe the way out of this situation can exist if we
impose an outside solution on both sides. The United States, Russia,
the EU, the United Nations, and Egypt, the only powerful country of the
Arab world that maintains diplomatic relations with Israel, must form a
group. The group must agree on creating a Palestinian state and on
guaranteeing the Israeli borders. It must then impose the solution.
I believe many people from both sides will be very happy with this
solution. And they will have the alibi that they did not accept it,
that it was imposed on them.
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Serbian News Network - SNN
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