> >STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.HOME-PAGE.ORG > >Subject: Kosovo: Smouldering fuse to WW III >Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 12:18:13 -0800 >From: David Morgan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Russia threatens NATO confrontation >Claims Kosovo peacekeepers coverinfor ethnic cleansing against Serbs > > >By Toby Westerman >� 2000 International News Analysis > >An armed confrontation is possible between Russian and NATO forces in >Kosovo, according to Russian Defense Minister Gen. Igor Sergeyev. > >In an address to a special assembly of the State Duma, the lower house >of >the Russian legislature, the Russian Defense Minister said that a >stand-off >between Russian and NATO forces could develop in two to three months on >the >border between Kosovo and Serbia. > >The Kosovo-Serb border has seen an increasing number of armed conflicts >between Serbs and ethnic Albanians crossing into Serbia from Kosovo. >Moscow >blames NATO for allowing the clashes, as well as for not protecting >Serbs >in Kosovo itself. > >Segeyev set out one possible scenario in which Russian forces already in > >Kosovo would find it necessary to march out of their designated area and > >into the Kosovo-Serbian border. Such a move would be a violation of the >NATO-imposed division of the nominally Serb province, and place the >Russians in conflict with other NATO troops patrolling the border area. > >British, French, and U.S. troops shoulder most of the responsibility for >the border region between Kosovo and Serbia. Segeyev stated that Russia >was attempting to avert such a confrontation. > >At the same Duma special session -- which was heard via the "Voice of >Russia" World Service Short Wave Radio Broadcast -- Russian Foreign >Minister Igor Ivanov declared the political situation in Kosovo to be >"very >alarming." He accused Albanian extremists of turning Kosovo into a >center >for drug dealing. Ivanov found it "even more alarming" that militant >Albanians are using NATO peacekeepers as a "cover" for a campaign of >ethnic >cleansing against the Serb population. > >Some 350,000 refugees have fled Kosovo, predominantly Serbs, but also >included are Gypsies and Moslems. > >Violence has continued to increase along the Kosovo-Serb border as a new > >Albanian guerrilla group has arisen in the area, according to the BBC. >The >new group is challenging both Serbian police and NATO troops. > >The new guerrilla force operates in a predominantly Albanian area of >Serbia, and has named itself after three villages in the area, calling >itself the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac. > >Russian criticism of NATO and its conduct in Kosovo has been continuous >and >bitter since the end of the alliance's air war against Yugoslavia. >Moscow >claims that NATO favors the ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, and that NATO >peacekeepers are responsible for the flight of Serbs from Kosovo. > >NATO's ultimate goal, according to the Russian government, is the >separation of Kosovo from Yugoslavia. > >Toby Westerman, editor of International News Analysis, contributes >exclusive reports to WorldNetDaily.com and WorldNet magazine. > >* David Morgan, National President, * >* Veterans Against Nuclear Armes (VANA) * >* 240 Holyrood Road, North Vancouver, BC * >* V7N 2R5, Canada Tel:(604)985-7147 * >* Fax: (604)985-1260 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> * > > >______________________________________________________________________ >To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >______________________________________________________________________ >Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com > __________________________________ 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] ___________________________________
