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STATEMENT BY THE GENERAL CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS
ON THE TERRORIST ACTS IN RUSSIA
Moscow, 6 September 2004

On behalf of its affiliates, the General Confederation of Trade Unions expresses its indignation at the wave of unprecedented cruel acts of terror committed recently against peaceful population in Russia.

One cannot help recoiling in shock from the news of the brutal massacre of people, mostly children, who had been taken hostage at Beslan, North Ossetia, as they participated in a ceremony opening the new school year. Together with their relatives, the GCTU grieves deeply over the death of hundreds of innocent people who have fallen victim to this and other terrorist acts. We hope that the Government of the Russian Federation will immediately take the necessary measures to find and duly punish all those involved in these crimes, prevent any such incidents in future, and ensure security for the civilian Russian population.

The GCTU calls on the trade unions in the CIS countries and on the international trade union movement to condemn harshly the architects and perpetrators of these terrorist acts, show solidarity with the people of Russia, and render fraternal support and assistance to the victims of terror.

The world community must close their ranks in the face of new challenges by terrorism that pose a threat to the peoples and workers of all the countries on this planet. We must cut the ground from under the feet of terrorists whatever pretexts they may find to justify their crimes.

Vladimir Scherbakov
GCTU General Secretary