State structures, public organisations and citizens must unite forces to resist terror. President Vladimir Putin emphasised this firm and consistent stand in a response he gave to a letter from the writer Chingiz Aitmatov expressing his pain and sympathy over the terrorist act in Beslan.
In his response Mr Putin said that he fully shares Mr Aitmatov’s assessment of the danger posed by international terrorism. One of the main conditions for fighting terrorist threats is to establish a reliable system to control arms and prevent the illegal arms trade.
The President stressed that the fight against terrorism is in many ways a fight for people’s minds. In this sense, the words and acts of authoritative writers, thinkers, teachers and religious leaders are of crucial importance.