> >STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.HOME-PAGE.ORG > >Russian General Questions NATO Tactics In Kosovo >MOSCOW, Mar 9, 2000 -- (Reuters) A senior Russian general said on >Thursday ethnic Albanian separatists had started a cycle of tension in >Yugoslavia that could end with NATO-led KFOR troops moving into areas >outside Kosovo. >Speaking at a news conference, Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov also >sharply criticized the U.N. administrator in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, >saying the Frenchman's decisions were aimed at accelerating the break-up >of the Yugoslav federation. >"We are watching with alarm the strengthening of the separatist >tendency, not just in the southern region of Serbia," said Ivashov, who >heads the Defense Ministry's international relations department. >He said ethnic Albanian extremists wanted to annex a number of >settlements in southern Serbia outside Kosovo. >Ivashov said some NATO countries, particularly the United States, were >conniving in such attempts to stir up tensions in southern Serbia. He >said there were similar moves in Montenegro - Serbia's junior partner in >the Yugoslav federation - and the northern province of Vojvodina. >"Again we see the possible scenario of provoking disorder, police >activity, concern on the faces of NATO politicians and generals and the >deployment of KFOR, above all NATO, forces with the aim of strengthening >the falling apart of the Yugoslav federation," he said. >"We see the NATO contingent preparing for such action in a concerted >fashion," Ivashov added, noting NATO planned a major exercise - "Dynamic >Response 2000" - later this month. >"It is becoming more tense and we do not rule out that as April >approaches these tensions will manifest themselves." >Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic told reporters on Thursday after >talks with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright the West was >willing to help Montenegro in the event of aggression from Belgrade. He >did not elaborate. >Ivashov, who was one of the most outspoken critics of NATO's bombing >campaign last year against Yugoslavia, said Russian troops cooperated >well with NATO forces in KFOR on the ground. >But the general was less complimentary about Kouchner, head of the U.N. >Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. >"Artificial attempts are being made, particularly by the head of the >U.N. mission, Mr Kouchner, to establish a situation in which de facto >Kosovo province leaves the Yugoslav federation," Ivashov said. >Ivashov's comments echoed some remarks by Yugoslavia's envoy to the >United Nations on Tuesday. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has also >expressed his concern about rising tensions in the Balkans and the fate >of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo. >Ivashov declined to comment on report in Britain's Guardian newspaper >that a spy leaked secrets to Belgrade last year and that a Swedish >businessman helped forge a peace deal. > > >______________________________________________________________________ >To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >---------------------------------------------------------------------- __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
