The Professor Thorolf Rafto Memorial Prize for 2005 is awarded to the Chechnyan lawyer and human rights advocate Ms Lidia Yusupova, in recognition of her brave and unrelenting efforts to document human rights violations and act as a spokeswoman for the forgotten victims of the war in Chechnya. Ms Yusupova struggles to defend human dignity in a chaotic war situation and in a context where the working conditions and security of human rights advocates and journalists are increasingly compromised.
This is among my dearest desires. The level of decent is so loud by the Chechnyan populous that is spands now generations and we have the makings of still another Ireland. It cannot be understated that the attacks in Beslan is not of a benevolent culture or an icon of international stability any country can accept.
I view the relationship between Chechnya and Russia, no different than the relationship of Westernized Chinese cultures such as Taiwan and China. One Russia policy. One China policy. The longer the struggle exists in decension among states of a sovereign authority the longer the suffering of the people within that sovereignty.
Currently there are forces outside of Russia in the way of Oligarchs with a claim to exile status requiring protection of other countries, attempting to undermine the stability of Russia in the name of promoting democratic processes. These same men were the powers that attempted to start coupes among themselves including arming themselves with fighter jets within the sovereignty of Russia. I don't think so. They aren't interested in promoting the best interest of Russians and have proven to be corrupt. Those voices do not lend stability to regions such as Chechnya. They fuel decension and cause human death and suffering.
It is the place of USA Peacekeepers to offer Russia assistance in stabilization of areas such as Beslan and the Caucusus Mountains without also offering threat to Russian sovereignty. Through foreign policy that includes mutual nuclear disarmament, cultural exchanges and exploration of mutually beneficial business ventures the USA could lend expertise to fighting crime in places such as Moscow itself.
Bringing the Russian culture and it's people to a venue of benevolence and safety will disarm any attempt to promote nuclear capacity by other countries of either Superpower. Currently Bush's USA is arming India and Russia is lending assistance with Iran. Neither ideas are good ones, except the 'technology' of nuclear energy can provide relief from the deadly damages of carbon based fossil fuels. Russia's approach as a provider and monitor of nuclear fuel rods is a far more benevolent concept than anything Bush has put forward. The enforcement of same will require international inspector vigilance and reporting.Rather than withholding expertise to allow Moscow high crime levels and even encourage destabilization of places such as the Caucasus Mountains in 'hope' that Russia will implode even further has only bolstered the desires of the Russia Duma to keep influence of a President that enjoys very high approval ratings by the people of Russia.
Through mutual interest in peace the USA and Russia might even find the will to seek each other out when adversity presents itself under destabilizing pressure from terrorists.
I remind.
Russia was the first nation at our side after the al Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001. They were on the ground in Afghanistan with medical field hospitals to treat any wounded USA military affected by an attempted al Qaeda attack.
Russia is an ally. Not an enemy. Never was, has no desire to be.
The people of Beslan and Chechnya deserve the best the two Superpowers have to offer to bring their suffering in decension to an end. The last place the USA belongs is promoting democracy through dangerous priorities of violence. The 'best' effort The West made in good example would be the demonstrations in The Ukraine that brought forth 'the truth' and the justice that accompanied the truth with a change in leadership. Russia was resistant and to some extent still is but that is in reaction to an aggressive administration in the USA with goals of destabilizing Russia further while carelessly disregarding the cultural enjoyment of the Russian people.
The benevolent relationship between the USA and Russia cannot be understated when one realizes we could never have defeated Hilter's War Machine without them. The Russians will always be a valued friend that likes to feel it's way to changes in social paradyms through measured steps of confidence.
