After the large-scale terrorist acts in the US, Spain, and Russia were followed by a series of explosions in popular tourist centers, it has become vitally important to step up the struggle against crime, organized crime, and terrorism. A quest for optimum antiterrorist and antiextremist methods was the main task of the 2nd International Antiterrorist Forum entitled “Modern Ukraine in Conditions of New Threats (Terrorism and Extremism).” The forum, part of the 5th International Exhibit of Protective Gear, Weapons, and Special Equipment “ISPEK ‘05,” was organized by the civic organization “International Antiterrorist Unity” (IAU) and aimed at drawing public attention to the need for new approaches to the antiterrorist and antiextremist system, primarily by a consolidated stand on the part of civic forces.
The forum came out with a public initiative proposing a model for a national antiterrorist and antiextremist program. Oleksandr Dichek, chairman of the board of IAU, outlined the initiative’s priorities. In an interview with The Day he stressed that even the UN doesn’t have a clear idea of how to combat terrorism: “It’s obvious that the current tactic that relies on forceful methods isn’t effective because it violates human rights and freedoms, and thus causes irritation within society. Our technologies have a humane orientation; they may be described as social-informative ones and categorized as cultural, humanistic, and educational. They are all aimed at forming harmonious individuals, who have no desire for conflicts between their nation and religion and others.”
First Deputy Premier Anatoliy Kinakh, co-chairman of the forum’s organizing committee, also noted the importance of such initiatives: “It’s simply necessary. We must realize that a phenomenon, such as international terrorism, has no boundaries, religion, or nation, and so it threatens the security of the entire civilization. However, results can be achieved only when the state and society combine their efforts based on the principles of democracy, and protection of human rights and security of our life.”
The principle of systematic counteraction to terrorism, aimed at activating the civic sector, met with approval among the power structures. Vasyl Krutov, deputy chief of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), emphasized that, “Terrorism, as an international, transnational phenomenon, is a system that calls for systematic counteraction. Above all, state institutions — special services, law enforcement agencies, and special structures like the SBU-based Antiterrorist Center of Ukraine — must be enlisted. However, the component of force also requires the enlistment of society and civic institutions.” He added that countries in which the civic component has not worked have serious problems: “Russia is a vivid example. Of course, people blowing up apartment buildings and committing acts of terrorism in the Metro could not have avoided revealing themselves in the preparatory phase, but the citizens of that country didn’t respond to this.” That’s why, he says, “The Security Service of Ukraine considers it necessary to enlist the civic society in the work of state institutions.”
Experts are placing special hopes on the media. Mr. Krutov believes that “media people can convey the ideology of antiterrorism and antiextremism to the people, and this will help combat terrorism.” His words were echoed by Oleksandr Dichek, who sees an optimum model that would harmonize the force and civic components in keeping the population adequately informed. However, he stresses the media’s responsibility for inadvertently assisting terrorists: “One of the specific features of modern terrorism is placing emphasis on the latent component of a terrorist act, precisely when the media are giving a detailed account of this act. The terrorists count on this and on their image in the public eye as martyrs, heroes fighting for the freedom and independence of their country or region.” Providing adequate information about terrorism and extremism thus provides optimum assistance to the sector of force.”
The main work in the struggle against terrorism is being carried out by the SBU-based Antiterrorist Center of Ukraine, which was founded in 1994. Vasyl Krutov gave The Day some information about the center: “Practically all vital facilities and technological structures that are likely targets of terrorist attacks because of their social importance are protected by various ACU action programs. Antiterrorist measures are being perfected at all nuclear power plants, gas and oil pipelines, in large populated areas and on government premises.”
A special international training center is being planned on the basis of the ACU, as President Viktor Yushchenko recently announced. Mr. Krutov says that its purpose is to train special antiterrorist units, agencies, and ministries in Ukraine, in addition to special units for other countries. Interestingly, there is no such center in Russia, only a special training center meant for the Federal Security Service (FSB).
Are there manifestations of terrorism in Ukraine? “We don’t have national terrorism as such,” says Mr. Krutov, “we have manifestations of terrorism, but they aren’t global or systematic. Mostly they are in the economic plane. Over 90% of criminal offences with terrorist hallmarks involve business interests. They are primarily caused by the social factor, criminalization of society, and we even have religious extremist provocations. But all these problems are being solved by the political leadership, so the overall atmosphere in Ukraine is calm.”
