MOSCOW. Feb 12 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia does not want to apply labels to particular countries in light of their policies, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said regarding U.S. President George W. Bush's "evil axis" comment.
"We object to such terms as 'rogue states.' We prefer to discuss the set and understandable term of 'the arch of instability,' which stretches at least from the Philippines to Kosovo," Ivanov said on Tuesday.
Afghanistan used to be a key link in this chain, he said. "Through joint efforts of the international community, this link was detached from the terrorist chain and the situation has almost normalized," he said.
"The training of terrorists from all parts of the world, including Russia, has ceased in Afghanistan. This is a big plus," he said.
"The problem of terrorism and non-proliferation remains serious. But I strongly disagree with the idea of sticking a label to a particular country because someone dislikes it," he said.
Russia is frequently displeased with the policies pursued by other countries, he said. "However, we are not going to stage blockades or demarches. We should work with these countries, resort to explanation and seek mutual understandings in keeping with the scale and forms of the international law. The whole anti- terrorist coalition must participate" in the process, he said.
Russia has remained "a responsible partner" of the anti- terrorist coalition and it has repeatedly demonstrated this stance, he said.