----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Rozoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2000 1:54 AM Subject: [STOPNATO] Russia Condemns Mine Takeover In Kosovo STOP NATO: �NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM AP Russia condemns mine takeover in Kosovo MOSCOW: Russia on Tuesday criticised the takeover of mine in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo by the international peacekeeping force there, saying the move was intended to strip Serbian management of control. Soldiers of the NATO-led peacekeeping force occupied the lead smelter at the Trepca mining complex in northern Kosovo on Monday, saying the facility was spewing toxic fumes into the environment. A United Nations spokesman said lead fumes in the area far exceeded World Health Organization norms, and that scores of people have become ill in the past year. The facility is run by ethnic Serbs, who are a small minority in Kosovo. The Russian government rejected this explanation. "Even if we talk about the alleged ecological catastrophe ... this in no instance can justify forceful actions by the international presence, which cannot be evaluated other than as an attempt to seize property which doesn't belong to them," said a statement from the Foreign Ministry. Meanwhile, the ministry also condemned plans to hold local elections in Kosovo in October because ethnic Serbs who fled the province last year will not be able to take part, according to a separate statement. "For now, not even the minimal necessary conditions" for elections have been created, the statement said.(AP) Russia condemns mine takeover in Kosovo MOSCOW: Russia on Tuesday criticised the takeover of mine in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo by the international peacekeeping force there, saying the move was intended to strip Serbian management of control. Soldiers of the NATO-led peacekeeping force occupied the lead smelter at the Trepca mining complex in northern Kosovo on Monday, saying the facility was spewing toxic fumes into the environment. A United Nations spokesman said lead fumes in the area far exceeded World Health Organization norms, and that scores of people have become ill in the past year. The facility is run by ethnic Serbs, who are a small minority in Kosovo. The Russian government rejected this explanation. "Even if we talk about the alleged ecological catastrophe ... this in no instance can justify forceful actions by the international presence, which cannot be evaluated other than as an attempt to seize property which doesn't belong to them," said a statement from the Foreign Ministry. Meanwhile, the ministry also condemned plans to hold local elections in Kosovo in October because ethnic Serbs who fled the province last year will not be able to take part, according to a separate statement. "For now, not even the minimal necessary conditions" for elections have been created, the statement said.(AP) ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] FREE SHIPPING OR FREE SUNGLASSES at wonderfulbuys.com! We're giving free shipping on all our great buys plus get free sunglasses. Also, register to win a Total Gym 3000 ($1000.00 retail value). Click now, limited time offer. http://www.bcentral.com/listbot/wonderfulbuys
