(3 of 3)
On the danger of Islamic fundamentalism: Aggressive developments in Algeria, Libya and Iran are all links of the same chain of extremism. The ideology of this extremism is expansionism. When ((fundamentalism)) is viewed geographically, it presents a very serious threat. Back in 1990-1991, the threat here was serious and too real to be ignored. Things went so far that we had to apply authoritarian measures. You may blame me for them, but no other options were available to me. The war in Tajikistan worked as a real eye- opener for many of our people. More than 50,000 people have died in the four years of strife in Tajikistan. Only then did people start to understand what kind of medieval horror was re-emerging on our borders. It had a sobering effect. Now the time has passed when this kind of mood could gain the upper hand here.