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further. The elimination of bin Laden is an episode on the way to reduction of the level of terrorist danger in the world. This policy should be continued marked by eradication of the causes of extremist feelings and by resolute and uncompromised struggle against international terrorism at all levels of this dangerous evil confronting the world community.
"Obozrevatel - Observer", M., 2011, N 6, p. 37-43.
I. Goryushina,
political scientist
THE IMPACT OF THE NEAR EAST ON THE CAUCASIAN EXTREMISM
The first official declarations on the direct connection of the international terrorism with the North Caucasus, particularly Chechnya, were made after 11 September 2001. Many analysts made a prognosis on the new orientation of Russian foreign policy in the Near East sector in compliance with the American course in the Near East (NE). The prognosis related also to the factor of allied relations between Russia and the USA as a whole: the researchers reckoned on the full support by Russia of the war in Iraq. However, the prognosis failed despite the conviction that creation of the stable union between the USA and Russia may be based on the common threat of the Islamic fighters-fundamentalists. On the contrary, maintaining rather close relations with Syria and Iran, Russia started to look for the allies in the name of Saudi Arabia (SA), Turkey and Egypt.
In February 2007, V. Putin became the first Russian leader, who visited SA. He proposed to conclude attractive contracts on construction of an atomic electric station, arms deliveries and export of oil. It was remarkable to note that the Russian president asked for a
greater quota for Muslim pilgrims to Mecca from Russia. As a result, the number of Russian pilgrims rose from 20 thousands to 26 thousands in 2007, including 3 thousand Chechens. In the past, SA was marked by the most frenzied criticism against Russia concerning Chechnya. Lately, criticism by official SA representatives stopped. In spite of official diplomatic steps of SA, according to some information, the biggest international Muslim organizations, which render assistance to international, including Chechen, extremism carry out their activities on its territory: Muslim World League, Faisal Islamic Bank, International Islamic Salvation Organization "Al-Igasa", Organization of Assistance and Support of Muslims in the Caucasus, foundation "Home of Two Saints" ("Al-Kharamein"), National Commercial Bank SA (London and Cairo branches) and "Dalian Al Barakah" (London) controlled by investment-industrial corporation "Saleh Al Kamel", which is one of ten biggest SA companies.
In 2008, the Russian-Turkish relations demonstrated the highest level of economic cooperation for the last two centuries, and the Turkish and Syrian business elites paid a great interest also to Chechnya proved by the meeting with R. Kadyrov on the territory of Chechnya in the end of May 2010. As a result of this meeting, an agreement with Akhmad Basruddin Khasan, mufti of Syria and with an assistant of the prime minister of Turkey was reached on further cooperation. At present, according to some information, a number of fictitious firms, which existed on the territory of Turkey and on the offshore of Cyprus, made financial transactions to Chechnya for the sake of support of extremism. The list of these companies changes actually every day. However, three permanent banks are also in charge of these activities: "Alfaizi Bank", "Vakif Bank" and "Turka Bank"; more than 16 organizations render regular financial and ideological assistance to Caucasian extremists: "Committee of Solidarity with
Chechens SK", "Party of Nationalist Movement", "Religious Association "Nurdzular", "Institute of Friendship and Brotherhood of Turkic States and Communities", "Institute of Turan Culture", "Foundation "Islakh", "Institute of Cultural Education and Social Assistance to the Caucasus", "Committee of Solidarity "the Caucasus" and others.
On 23 June 2009, the Treaty on Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Arabic Republic of Egypt was signed. The treaty included the following fields of bilateral cooperation, such as energy, including atomic and high tech industries, as well as cosmos. On the one side, Egypt is interested in the anti-terrorist cooperation with Russia, on the other side, 5 influential structures supporting extremism in the Caucasus have their headquarters on its territory: "Brigades of Islambuli", "Holy War" ("Al-Dzhihad-al-Islami"), "World Islamic Council on Propaganda and Assistance" ("Daava va Igasa"), the religious university "Al-Az-khar", "Islamic Group" ("Al-Gamaa-al-Islamia").
The political and economic feasibility of strategic partnership with the East actualizes the significant problem - the religious issue, which directly concerns the terrorism both in the Near East and in the Caucasus. Exactly in connection with this issue V. Putin tries to reduce to nothing Islamic phobia in Russia caused by negative consequences of the situation in the Caucasus. Since 2003, V. Putin in his declarations starts to stress that terrorism can not be identified as some religion or culture. At the same time, underlining the fact that the Chechen terrorists were connected with the international criminal networks and narcotics trade, he avoids to make rigid declarations on Islam as a religion and NC as a nidus of terrorist activities. And the politically corrected behavior of the Russian party is connected with the circumstance that Russia expects to play a role of the mediator between
the West and the Near East in its policy in the Near East. Following official Russian contacts with "Khamas" (after its victory at the elections in Palestine, the refusal of Russia to consider it as a terrorist organization etc.) the relations with Israel deteriorated to some extent. Russia carries out the same policy relating to "Party of Allah" in Lebanon - "Khezbolla" There is a widely spread meaning not without sense that the Russian party considers these organizations to be only political entities with a strong and self-dependent social basis.
As a result of Russia's active cooperation in NE (in July 2006 after the death of the leader of separatists Shamil Basayev) the number of terrorist acts in NC reduced considerably. However, since 2008, according to a report of the Center for Strategic and International Research, the number of forceful acts rose rapidly, namely from 795 acts in 2008 to 1100 acts in 2009, while the number of suicide explosions in 2009 rose four times as many, and most of them took place in Chechnya. The western analytical centers qualify the year of 2009 as a bloody year, while the foreign press actively discussed the impact of foreign organizations and networks on the situation in NC. In particular, many experts confirm existence of rather close ties between the network of Al-Qaeda and the bandits' formations in Chechnya. As it was known, Chechen field commander Khattab, killed in 2002, sometimes met Usama bin Laden during Afghan war of 1979-1989. American Ambassador to Russia A. Vershbow said after 11 September 2001, that the USA had admitted the activities of bin Laden and other international networks, which promoted conflict in Chechnya, including recruitment of foreign bandits' commanders, like Khattab. The definite signs of Al-Qaeda presence in NC are the public decapitation of hostages and suicide bombers. On the one side, lately the number of explosions arranged by suicide bombers in NC might indicate existence of Al-Qaeda in the region, on the other side many experts share the
opinion that Chechnya is not the priority for Al-Qaeda but only one the fields for global jihad.
Nevertheless, over 90 organizations exist in NE, which are connected to some or other extent with the support given to extremism in NC. Many structures carry out wide activities aimed at collection of grants for extremists in Chechnya by means of different false firms and offshore zones for transferal of financial means (a clear example -Turkey). For instance, in the United Arabic Emirates the International Islamic Relief Organization jointly with the Human Appeal International created the special fund for assistance to Chechen refugees, which is in charge of transferal of financial means from higher hierarchy structures to other organizations. As a result, they reach the terminal - NC, Chechnya. It concerns foundations and organizations, which function officially under the aegis of assistance to Muslim brothers. It is significant to mention the fact that it is not advantageous for the Caucasian extremists to give up their region to any international terrorist organization. It would be not profitable either in political and economic terms, since for several years they have received financial means from various Diaspora and Islamic organizations in NE. Actually, extremism in NC resembles an investment project with a big share of investments made by the organizations of the Near East, which would have been impossible without probable state support.
"Fundamentalnye problemy prostranstvennogo razvitiya Yuga Rossii: Mezhdistsiplinarny sintez ",
R-na-D, 2010, p. 70-73.
