EU regrets violent end to school siege

The European Union, in veiled criticism, regretted the violent and bloody resolution of the school hostage crisis by Russian authorities today, but said they understood authorities had been faced with few options.

Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot, whose country holds the EU presidency, praised Russian efforts for trying to find a peaceful resolution through negotiations with the terrorists.

“It is very difficult to judge from a distance whether the right decision was taken or not,” Bot said. “But the authorities have done their utmost to find a solution through negotiations.”

He said it was too early to draw any conclusions as to whether Russian tactics of raiding the school could have been averted.

On behalf of the 25-nation EU, Bot offered his condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin and to the families of the victims as the number of dead continued to rise at the chaotic scene unfolding at the school in Beslan, Russia.

“We have been confronted with a deep human tragedy,” Bot said. “This shows once again that we have to do everything in our power to confront terrorism.”

He said the hostage taking highlighted the need for Russia to once again look at resolving the ongoing conflict in Chechnya, and that the EU would continue to push for a peaceful resolution to the fighting there.

“We will support the Russian government in finding a solution,” he said, adding that Chechnya remained “a concern” for the EU.

Bot spoke during a two-day EU foreign ministers meeting in Valkenburg, Netherlands, overshadowed by the events in Russia.

The EU ministers in a statement appealed for calm and expressed solidarity with Russia. The EU said it “regrets the hostage crisis could not be solved peacefully, but understands the difficult dilemma the Russian government was confronted with.”