Decmber, 6, 2005

Zbignev Bjzezinski: "The struggle of Chechens is worthy of admiration and sympathy!"

 

We call attention of readers to interview of outstanding American political scientist and the statesman doctor Zbignev Bjzezinski reported in the radio station "The voice of America". The interview was held on the eve of Kremlin dramatizations of so-called "parliamentary elections" in the Chechen Republic.

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1. How do you regard the situation in the Chechen Republic?

From the human and social point of view, the situation is awful and very sad. The sea of sufferings. From the political point of view, the situation is also extremely negative, both for Chechens who are in depression and for Russia because the situation which occurs in the Chechen Republic, creates conditions for continuation of reprisals, for development of autocracy, for strengthening of the police control over the society.

2. What you think about forthcoming parliamentary elections?

It will be fraudulent elections because they do not give voters the real choice. It will be elections of the best Soviet traditions.

3. Do not you think after all, that it is better, than nothing?

In the circumstances, which exist in the Chechen Republic today, any normalization - is an improvement. But on us, people of the West, lays the duty of forming clear moral and political estimations. Therefore, we cannot accept a substitute of elections instead of that Chechen people has deserved. And it has deserved true freedom of choice, true personal safety and true self-determination.

4. Is there at least any chance at those leaders who promise safety and self-determination but to whom the Russian authorities refuse in legitimacy?

They do not have chances at forthcoming elections and political chances in the near future. But in the long-term plan everything may be exchanged, as sometime in the future in Russia, I am convinced, the democracy will step into. It will have to change fundamentally if it wants to become a part of the Big Europe. Then it will be more ready so as to solve the problems, similar to Chechen, just like they are solved by the real democracies. I immediately remember the problem, which had been arisen in USA in connection with Puerto Rico where the separative dispositions were prevailing. We have given to people of Puerto Rico a choice: to become either the independent state, or an integrated part of USA, or to find the special status. And it was truly free choice.

5. What kind of choice, to your opinion would be the best for the people of the Chechen Republic?

In the long-term - to become a part of some kind of federations of Northern Caucasus, which would have its national identification, but, at the same time, there would be special relations with Russia - economic, technological and others. The Chechen Republic is too small to become completely separated state. But it has shown such adherence to freedom and idea of self-determination, that it should obtain them completely. Therefore, at the presence of good will and in more democratic conditions it will be possible to find a certain formula of state system, which would provide the big stability in North Caucasian region.

6. And what do you think about interests of Russia in the field of national safety?

They should be taken into account at the certain moment. And to find the form of relations suitable for both sides, for what it will be needful the certain compromise. In due time I suggested such formula: the Chechen Republic receives the right on self-determination, but its southern borders are defended through the help of Russia that will keep its territorial integrity, but will consider unessential the presence of the Russian armies in the territory of the Chechen Republic.

7. Many thanks to you, doctor Bjzezinski!

I would like to take advantage of this opportunity to express the admiration and sympathy to the Chechen people and to make them believe that in spite of incredible today's sufferings, in the long-term, historically, he will be able to look in the future with the big optimism. Present conditions cannot be kept eternally because they are abnormal and incompatible to the civilized norms extending all over Europe.

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Zbignev Bjzezinski: brief curriculum vitae

Zbignev Bjzezinski - an outstanding American political scientist and statesman. The author of global strategy of anticommunism, the theory of convergence, the theory of technothrone era and the concept of the American hegemony of a new type. In 1977-1981 had a post of the assistant to the president on national safety in the government of president Jimmy Carter, apologist of an irreconcilable opposition of communistic expansion. The main political events during his service were normalization of relations with China, signing of contract OSB II, the beginning of democratic reforms in the East Europe, accentuation of human rights in foreign policy of USA and military support to Afghani mojaheds.

He was born in Warsaw in 1928, in family of the Polish diplomat. After the occupation of Poland by Germany and Soviet Union, he had spent many years in France, Germany and Canada. In USA, he finished University McJill with a degree of the master and the Harward university with a degree of the doctor in political sciences (1953). Then he delivered lections in Harward, but in 1961, he moved in the Colombian university, having headed a new Institute on Communist Affairs. During 60's Bjzezinski was in the rank of the adviser in administrations of J. F.Kennedy and L.Johnson and had a rigid line in relation to Soviet Union. At the end of Johnson's term, he was the adviser in foreign policy of Vice-president Hubert Hamfree and of his presidential campaign. Severe critic of policies of Nickson - Kissindger, Bjzezinski became the assistant to President Carter on national safety in 1977.

Now he is the adviser of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the professor of the American foreign policy at School of Area and International Studies of Pol Nitse at the University in a name of John Hopkins in Washington. Besides it, Bjzezinski - is a member of board of directors of National Endowment for Democracy, a member of the organization «Freedom House», a member of the Trilateral Commission, the member of the American academy of humanitarian and natural sciences (American Academy of Arts and Sciences) etc. Zbignev Bjzezinski is also one of the co-founders and heads of the American committee for the peace in the Chechen Republic (American Committee for Peace in Chechnya). He has a set of premiums and awards, for example, Award of hubert Hamfree under public relations from the American association of a political science, the Presidential Medal of Freedom for a role in normalization of the American-Chinese relations and for the contribution to a policy of human rights and national safety of USA, the Award of White Orel from the Polish republic for the contribution to restoration of its independence.

CHECHENPRESS, the Department of MASS-MEDIA, 06.12.05
http://chechenpress.co.uk/english/news/2005/12/06/01.shtml