Vasily Likhachyov: ‘Effectiveness of the Belgian intelligence services is questionable’
Ex-chairman of the board of directors of Russia to the EU tells about terrorist attacks in the heart of Brussels, Jihadists in capitals and deficit of professionalism of western politicians
Yesterday terrorist attacks took place in Brussels: blasts hit the airport and metro stations. While the details about the attacks and the guilty people were being found out, Realnoe Vremya talked to a member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation Vasily Likhachyov, a famous statesman who comes from Tatarstan and worked in the city of Brussels from 1998-2003 as a Permanent Representative of Russia to the EU. In the expert's view, yesterday's terrorist attacks demonstrated that it's high time the efforts of Russian and West united in the fight against terrorism.
Challenges for international society
Yesterday explosions hit the airport and metro station of Brussels. What signals and challenges demonstrated terrorists to the international society?
It is a good question. I think there are several signals: political, oriented to cooperation and oriented to solution of safety problems. The first signal is obviously for me: the measures taken in the fight against the terrorism are not effective enough. They are not enough. The level of cooperation, the level of credit among countries in this cooperation of the anti-terrorist trend don't respond to the problems that we see in Syria, France and today in Belgium.
The second signal is that the situation connected with discrimination, sanctions against Russia, is just ridiculous against this background. Today international events, round-table talks and conferences within the scope of the conserved cooperation of Russia with the Parliamentary Assembly of the EU, European Parliament, NATO and other bodies are necessary to define the degree of the threat, which, as we see, is actively spreading in the countries that are safe and open-hearted to accept people from Middle and Near East, migrants.
The first signal is obviously for me: the measures taken in the fight against terrorism are not effective enough. Photo: twitter.com
The third moment is that the Russian Federation, force services, which have a very serious experience on the anti-terrorist vector, are ready to offer their help to their colleagues in the Kingdom of Belgium and any other European country that faces such threats if it asks for it. I'm convinced that in case of appeal, our competent bodies, the administration, the Security Council, the President of the country Putin will reply these requests because the situation happened in Belgium cannot be considered as a localized incident, this chain can stretch in any direction. For this reason, our airlines – Aeroflot, in particular, – should take extremely serious measures to make the passengers of this destination, the company and the crew get ready in case of such an extraordinary situation. These signals are different but linked with one point: safety, including national, undoubtedly, requires an international cooperation and collaboration – open, trusting, based on the principles of the international law.
Deficit of professionalism of western politicians
Mr. Likhachyov, will the relationships of Russia and Europe, NATO change after these terrorist attacks like it was between our country and USA after 11 September?
A sensible person always draws conclusions about what is happening around this person and with him or her. I have a feeling that today there is a deficit of professionalism of the politicians, officials in the West. No offence.
Basing on my 5-year experience of life in Brussels, I can say that these problems always existed. Some reservations were created. Walking in Brussels, you will see a Chinese district, an Arab district where people from Africa live, from North Africa, in particular. Not just charity is necessary for these people, completely normal conditions for their integration into the European society, European life, European culture are needed. There must be effective normative legal national systems connected with the integration respectively.
European Jihadist square
Now the city of Brussels is called a Jihadist capital of Europe because there are many Arabs, Muslim quarters. Do you agree with this statement?
I do, of course. Looking carefully at the main points of presence people in Europe who came from the Arab, Muslim world, the capitals are London, Paris and Brussels. Berlin is the fourth one. This is why I think that there will be a sitting of the European Commission – the main executive body of the European Union –in the short run. It is obvious that the next resolution of the European Parliament will be adopted.
Looking carefully at the main points of presence people in Europe who came from the Arab, Muslim world, the capitals are London, Paris and Brussels. Phot: turbina.ru
But the most important thing is not to spread a negative, nihilistic attitude to the immigrants from non-European countries, they should not be considered as a different kettle of fish, a negative attitude is not to arise. The European people also should be told and informed that there is a culture, a religion that is different from Catholicism, which exists and has the right to exist. The issue of the dialogue of civilizations and religions acquires a very important meaning especially after yesterday's events in Belgium. I think here the Russian Federation can be a very serious region that with its political experience, experience in anti-terrorist work and fight against crime. I will say once again. If there are appeals, Russia will respond them.
Effectiveness of special services
Have you ever been in the places where there were explosions?
Undoubtedly, I know the Brussels Airport in Zaventem very well. I'm surprised because the internal police work very strictly, just extremely strictly. I know Shuman metro station, it is close to the European quarter where there is the main body of the EU, many embassies. The mission I headed is situated near – the representative of the Russian Federation to EU.
And today the effectiveness of the work of the counterintelligence service and intelligence service of Belgium is questionable because I know that these districts are carefully controlled by the force services of the Kingdom. It is absolutely unclear why… there was some information 2-3 days ago, why was not this information used? It is a question of competency. Force services don't like when civilians interfere in their businesses, but the fact is the fact.
Can similar terrorist attacks take place in Russia?
'As you know, in Russia, the authorities both political and force bodies made many things in recent years to provide the safety regime. We should not think about what might happen but maintain the orientation and ability to react to the smallest signals in the anti-terrorist work at high level. I suppose that today in Russia an anti-terrorist policy is being forming.
I know the Brussels Airport in Zaventem very well. I'm surprised because the internal police work very strictly, just extremely strictly.Photo: flanderstoday.eu
There are good, prepared people, special equipment; a new approach is used taking account the situation in the Near and the Middle East and the events we are together observing in the European space. The Russian special services are ready for this kind of challenges.