KavkazCenter - Abdallah Shamil: 'Jihad is our goal'

Abdallah Shamil: 'Jihad is our goal'

Several time ago the Ukrainian edition UADaily applied to the Kavkaz Center IA with request to organize opportunity for interviewing on of the Chechen leaders. The KC transferred questions of the UADaily editorial staff to the first vice-premier of the Government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, the Commander Shamil Abdallah Abu-Idris. In the end of the past week the KC editorial staff received answers to these questions and transferred them to the Ukrainian colleagues. However the latter have not published the interview.

The KC editorial staff has decided to publish the answers of the Chechen vice-premier to the questions of the Ukrainian edition on the pages of KC, and the Ukrainian editions has been informed on this.

Answers of Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris to the questions of the Ukrainian edition UADaily

Q: Events in Afghanistan and Irag show that situation in these countries have not been stabilized. Why has suppression of local authorities by the Coalition forces brought to civil discord and war? Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris: The first, nothing has finished there, but quite the contrary. The second, civil war is impossible in conditions of civil war. It is quite another matter, when occupants represented by anti-Iraqi and anti-Afghani coalition try to initiate in these countries civil war. That will be ample to listen and read the western mass media to make sure of this. They allege permanently that a war will start in a moment. However there is a war against the aggression and invasion.

Q: Do you exclude that advance of Islam at the point of bayonets observed in the world has scared the potential Islamic believers? Why has only such way been chosen in the world?

Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris: I don’t observe any so-called advance of Islam at the point of bayonets, but quite contrary fact is observed, when democracy is advanced at the point of bayonets. Objectivity is a must. Look at the world map. Where are wars conducted today? Who is an aggressor and who is defender? Who is murdered and attacked at present? Whose territories are invaded? What did your militaries do in Iraq? What did they lose there?

The facts show that none Muslim people or country invaded alien lands. Quite contrary they occupy just the Muslim territories and kill Muslims. At the same time they allege that liberty and democracy are defended.

Consequently you’ve set wrong question. You have asked otherwise – “Why democracy is advanced at the point of bayonets?”

Q: There is the impression that the current situation in Ichkeria will not change in 5 years or even 10 years. What is a way out of this situation according to opinion of the Ichkeria leaders?

Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris: The situation in Ichkeria and Caucasus can change in any moment or keep on unchanged for 10 or 100 years more. There is currently the war, which is an unpredictable thing. However everything is clear for the Muslims. Our goal is following to Jihad and its outcome depends on Allah. If a soon victory is a wealth for us, then it is not far off. If keeping on war is a wealth for us, it will be last so much as Allah wants. We are only asking Him to give us more patience on His Way.

Q: Are the field commanders of Ichkeria going to follow to the HAMAS example and propose their candidatures for legislative bodies of the Russian Federation?

Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris: HAMAS has not run for the legislative bodies of Israel. And if we talk about a way we have chosen, I would like to acknowledge again that there is a single way for all the Muslims of the world – establishment of Laws of Allah. Games and yields on this Way will bring only to humiliation.

Q: Some radical Ukrainian politicians, including Dmitriy Korchniskiy often emphasize allegedly existing relations with the leaders of Ichkeria along with their involvement in local policy. Have really the Ukrainians affected someway events in the country?

Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris: In the beginning of the first war (1994-1996) a small group of the Ukrainian volunteers fought among our Armed Forces. And I don’t know any more about influence of any Ukrainian groups or organizations upon events in our country.

Q: The Ukrainian politicians remind frequently that there are camps in the Crimea Mountains, where the Ichkeria fighters are trained. Is this a fact? Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris: There are not any our bases and camps in Crimea. This is wrong information.

Q: They in Ukraine discuss frequently a probability of reiteration of so-called Chechen scenery in Crimea. How do you think is it possible and what conditions are real to obtain this?

Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris: Those who do not understand reality of current events in Caucasus are used to talk about so-called Chechen scenery. As for a probability of destabilization of situation in Crimea, any clear-headed politicians in Ukraine as well a simple citizen of this country understand clearly that Russians and Russia are currently the main destabilizing factor in Crimea.

As for the Crimea Tatars the situation here will depend on wisdom and fairness of the Ukrainian authorities. If they think about future they will have to understand that if the Crime Tatars problem keeps on to be preserved further without settlement of settling essentially and fairly the problem and reinstatement of the people for their historical Fatherland will result sooner or later to serious problems.

Q: Economic disagreements are observed currently between Ukraine and Russia. What can you advise on this situation and how should Kiev conduct its policy to settle this problem?

Abdallah Shamil Abu-Idris: Ukraine is not small and poor country. If the Ukrainian authority is able to awake assurance and self-confidence of the Ukrainian people, to help them to feel self-esteem, then Russia will fail to realize their adventurous interests and Ukraine will escape the traps of Moscow. Problem consists in consciousness of people of a country, but not economy.

First Vice-premier of the Government of CRI,

Commander Abdallah Shamil Abu Idris (Shamil Basaev).

Department of Correspondence,

Kavkaz-Center