Last Friday, the Russian Cultural Attache of the Russian Embassy to Canada was on campus speaking about terrorism and Russian foreign policy. Originally here to open the Pushkin exhibit (currently being displayed in the library) Valerij Nazarenko took the opportunity to address students and faculty on a subject that has occupied many minds of late, and dominated American airwaves for over two weeks: the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Centre on September 11th, 2001.

The Russian government was quick to respond to the attacks saying that they were "inhuman actions which cannot be left unpunished." But while the Russians support the Americans in their war on terrorism, Nazarenko also appeared to stress caution to the Americans when dealing with their new enemy. "This is a new starting point in the evolution of international security," he says. "We shouldn't be hasty, we shouldn't rush."

For the foreseeable future, the Russians will be co-operating with the Americans, along with many other countries, in what Nazarenko called "[a] partnership free of Cold War stereotypes between Russian and American governments." The sharing of information and participation of intelligence services from the West and East will result in a "dynamic partnership of international secret services." Tracking movements of terrorists and weapons, and responding to them "promptly and efficiently." He adds, "Now our aim is to unite our efforts and the approach should be comprehensive."

While a question of the level of Russian involvement was brought up by one of the journalists present, Nazarenko stressed that "Russia is satisfied with the level of consultation [between the two countries]. We have a lot to offer. The Russian role in anti-terrorism is crucial, even if it doesn't mean a military role. We have historic and contemporary experience [with terrorism]," which the Russians hope will be of educational value to the Americans in their own dealings with international terrorism.

In fact, despite the Americans willingness to 'smoke out' terrorists, it is Nazarenko's hope that the military solution will be a last resort for the Americans, and all of the countries involved. As with their own experience in Chechnya, he says it is "almost impossible to separate the guerrillas from the civilians," and a clean simple solution to the problem seems all too elusive at this point in the game.