New York Times - 09.24.2001

 

New York Times

Kazakh Leader Offers Full Support for U.S. Strike

ASTANA (Reuters) - Kazakhstan became the first ex-Soviet state to promise practical support to the U.S. war on ''terrorism'' on Monday, offering its strategically vital aerodromes and bases for a potential strike on Afghanistan.

``Kazakhstan is ready to support an action against terrorism with all the means it has at its disposal,'' President Nursultan Nazarbayev told a news conference in the capital Astana, after denouncing the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Asked whether support would include use of aerodromes, military bases and airspace, Nazarbayev said firmly: ``these means include everything you have just enumerated.''

``We have so far received no concrete requests for such help but if they come Kazakhstan will consider them positively,'' he said, adding that he was consulting with other Central Asian leaders on how to fight ``terror.''

The region could be a vital staging area for any strike against Afghanistan, which the U.S. says is harbouring its prime suspect for the attacks, Saudi-born billionaire Osama bin-Laden.

The southern border of vast Kazakhstan, a mostly Muslim nation which is currently hosting a visit by Pope John Paul, is just 200 miles from Afghanistan.

Nazarbayev said Central Asia's leaders had long warned the West of the dangers of ``international terrorism,'' but had been ignored, with the disastrous consequences wrought on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

``Such indulgence of terrorism, demonstrated for many years, finally led to this tragedy,'' he said, stressing Kazakhstan's determination to underline its warnings with action.

``Not participating actively when there is talk about a real fight would be dishonest, and Kazhakhstan will not behave this way,'' Nazarbayev said, while adding that actual Kazakh military participation in any strike on Afghanistan was unlikely.

``I don't think it will come to that,'' he said.

UZBEKISTAN STAYS SILENT

In Uzbekistan, which borders Afghanistan, an official at the capital's civilian airport said two U.S. C-130 cargo planes delivering intelligence gathering equipment had stopped over there on Friday. The government has not confirmed the report.

Uzbekistan and neighboring Kyrgyzstan have had to repel summer incursions by heavily armed guerrilla bands over the last few years. They justify heavy-handed treatment of political opposition as necessary to prevent a surge in ''terrorism.''

Neither state has committed concrete help to any U.S. strike and have mirrored the cautious response to the crisis by Russia, which has a strong influence on the Central Asian states.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he supports Washington's declaration of war on ``international terrorism'' but has insisted any response be in line with international law and U.N. conventions.

Largely impoverished ex-Soviet Central Asia is also keenly aware of its inability to deal with an influx of refugees which could swiftly follow any U.S. action in Afghanistan.

Nazarbayev said the region's leaders had discussed how to cope with such an inundation, without giving details.

Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov said last week his country would not let in any Afghan refugees because guerrillas could be among their number and the nation was still suffering the after-effects of a devastating drought.