Richmond Times Dispatch, VA
Nov 13 2004
Diplomats discuss efforts to end terrorism
Envoys from 5 Eastern European nations speak at VSU event
BY OSITA IROEGBU
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Nov 13, 2004
ETTRICK – One student at an international conference on terrorism at
Virginia State University yesterday wanted to know why certain acts
are considered terrorism and others are not.
“Why is it that any mention of terrorism involves focusing on bombs
being strapped to someone’s body who wants to blow something up but
someone going in a room and shooting at a whole family or school
isn’t?” the VSU senior asked a group of foreign diplomats.
The auditorium thundered with applause as the student urged the
speakers to treat any act of violence as a threat.
Five ambassadors from newly formed Eastern European nations didn’t
answer the student’s question directly, but the panelists discussed
their resolve to end terrorism.
Ambassadors from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Moldova
all addressed their countries’ diplomatic and military efforts to
fight terrorism during an international conference at Virginia State
University yesterday.
This was the first time VSU had hosted such a discussion on global
affairs and terrorism. University officials said it is important to
inform the student body about what some call “an unfamiliar part of
Eastern Europe” and the global war on terror.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the region struggled to
form independent democracies and enact economic and political reform.
Fifteen newly independent countries that emerged from the Soviet
Union’s dissolution are now fighting to end international terrorism.
Some ambassadors said factors such as high-density population and
high unemployment rates could serve as a breeding ground for radical
thoughts and separatist groups.
“In order to stop terrorism, we have to get to the root of the
problem,” said Hafiz M. Pashayev, ambassador from the Republic of
Azerbaijan to the United States. “Radicalism may lead to groups and
factions to achieve terrorism goals.”
Pashayev said issues such as economic strife could lead to increased
terrorists acts and weapons-trafficking throughout Eastern Europe.
“We are striving to eliminate unemployment and keep the inflation
rate low,” he said.
The diplomats called for more diplomatic attention from international
groups such as the United Nations, NATO and the European Union to
curb the formation of terrorist groups in the new nations.
“There is a strong fight against aggression in my country but the
international community must turn their attention to international
aggression,” Pashayev said.
Arman Kirakossian, Armenian ambassador to the United States, said
the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the terrorists attacks that
followed a decade later in the United States created a new situation
in his region.
“The events of Sept. 11 dramatically reformed our direction,”
Kirakossian said. “We must develop an action plan” to fight terrorism.
The ambassadors said they hope to continue partnerships with the
United States to combat terrorism. For instance, some of the countries,
such as Georgia and Armenia, have deployed troops to Iraq, they said.
Levan Mikeladze, Georgian ambassador to the United States, said
that region wants to help fight the threat of terrorism and the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
“We must build a political system and government that is based on the
grass roots of democracy,” he said. “The U.S. has played a critical
role in strengthening Georgia’s security and we will continue to
fight corruption.”
Panelists, including former U.S. Ambassador to Moldova Pamela Hyde
Smith, urged Russia to help with the fight.
“One key is Russia’s engagement as part of the solution instead of
part of the problem,” Smith said, calling the formation of the new
independent countries “one of the most important areas of interest
in the post Cold-War period.”
Ceslav Ciobanu, a VSU scholar and professor, served as ambassador
to the United States from Moldova. Ciobanu and other officials urged
students to increase their interest in foreign and world affairs.
Calling the conference a “milestone” event at VSU, Weldon Hill, dean
of VSU’s School of Liberal Arts and Education, said “It is absolutely
necessary for our students to be globally astute, particularly during
this era of substantive shifts in world affairs, including the war
on terror and political change.”