<HTML>#8 MoscowTimes October31, 2002 Editorial DistinguishTerrorism From Separatism EditorialBy branding the Congress of the Chechen People a terrorist gatheringand pushing for the arrest of Akhmed Zakayev, the Kremlin may havefurther solidified domestic support for more resolute use of force in dealingwith the Chechnya problem. But thereality is that not every Chechen separatist is a terrorist, even thoughsome refugees have become so radicalized in the course of the brutal Chechenwar that they openly supported the seizure of innocent civilians in Moscowand wished they were part of the hostage-taking group. Russiashould stop trying to portray all Chechens who favor self-determinationas ruthless butchers acting on the orders of internationalterrorist networks that the international community should joinforces against. The self-determination aspirations of a formidable part ofthe Chechen people is Russia's domestic problem, which no internationalanti-terrorist coalition would solve for the Kremlin. Russiashould try to distinguish between terrorism and separatism -- even thoughthe division line between them can be blurred -- using adequate and proportionateforce to cope with the former, but not the latter. It isclear that by failing to personally condemn the hostage-taking before thestandoff was over, Aslan Maskhadov has discredited himself. But civilizedproponents of self-determination of Chechnya, who oppose terrorismas a means to achieve their goal, have not ceased to exist with thediscrediting of Maskhadov, whose five-year term as president expired earlythis year. Andmore bullets and bombs will not kill these aspirations of self-determinationbut radicalize them, as was the case with Dzhokhar Dudayevand Aslan Maskhadov. Thereshould be no doubt what this brutalized nation would opt for if given the immediateopportunity to vote on self-determination -- and that would be anunacceptable development for the Kremlin. But theKremlin can take one step without shedding control of the republic andthat is holding elections for a Chechen parliament. This would give proponentsof nonviolent self-determination legitimate representation and stillallow for the establishment of a presidential republic. TheKremlin can also soften the grievances of the people by stopping the indiscriminateuse of force and encouraging economic and social development of thisravaged land. Ifsafety and decent living standards would not decrease the Chechen people'sdesire to break away from Russia, then nothing will. But ifrepresentation in parliament and the reality of a safe and relativelyprosperous Chechnya lead separatists to abandon the idea of usingviolence to achieve their goals, then the Kremlin could hope that theseproponents of self-determination could become what Gerry Adams and SinnFein have become for Northern Ireland. </HTML>