At the 2005 Group of Eight (G-8) meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland, UK , Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that terrorism could not be conquered alone and required, instead, “coordinated…responses” (source). While the world was still recoiling from the London Tube attacks , Putin was likely also referring to his own indigenous terrorist movement, the Chechen Rebels , that have been fighting Moscow in a bloody battle that has targeted civilians for over a decade. At the Gleneagles meeting, Putin was sour with Tony Blair for his refusal the year prior to acknowledge the Chechens as “internationally recognized terrorists” and for Blair’s 2003 refusal to extradite Akhmed Zakayev , the Rebel’s main spokesman who lives in exile in the UK.
This year, Putin heads the G-8 and with the pronouncement on July 10, 2006 of Chechen leader Shamil Basayev’s death , Putin has place international terrorism as a keystone topic of the summit in Russia . Indicators suggest that the G-8 participants will back Putin’s proposal to involve businesses and the media in the fight against terrorism. However, delegates have their work cut out for them, as Russia pushes forward with an interventionist agenda, which rustles the feathers of most other G-8 members. One of the key issues to resolve is the role media plays in reporting on terrorism; Russia, according to one G-8 diplomat, seemingly wants “the media business to report on terrorism issues in a certain way, or desist from reporting on terrorism issues in ways which would be contrary to counterterrorism purposes.” Another key issue to be resolved will be cost sharing of both protecting critical infrastructure and rebuilding in the event of an attack. This issue of infrastructure, specifically energy, is at the fore of the EU delegate’s priorities; although, little can be expected to be achieved in this realm, given that the G-8 is non-binding. However, all seem to agree that a public-private partnership with “transparency and openness” (source) is critical in countering terrorism.
Critics of Putin contend that his heavy-handedness against the Chechen Rebels has worsened the situation in the region. Especially in Chechnya, Moscow’s military forces have been criticized for human rights abuses and restrictions on freedoms, neither of which are representative of G-8 ethics. Russia, however, is allowed membership because of its immense gas and oil supplies, which Europe is intently interested in tapping and Russia is intently willing to manipulate to achieve its interests, as was seen against the Ukraine in early 2006 . Interestingly, one of the Russian contentions is that private business should invest in deprived regions that are recruiting grounds for terrorism. This is the theory behind extraction companies building infrastructure and supporting the local populace in Nigeria or Indonesia . Ironically and likely to Putin’s chagrin, Chechnya, Ingushetia, and other satellite regions may, then, be excellent locales for businesses to stand up operations, albeit with appropriate physical security precautions in place.
Moscow will be hosting a follow-on conference on November 27-29 to attract Western businesses to the G-8 proposal. Those with business interests in Russia would be well advised to participate in the conference.
TRC will be issuing a subsequent Intel Report on the G-8 before the meetings take place between July 15-17; it will be made available via email and on the website.