ROME, 31 lug (Velino) - Russia may unleash a deployment of troops in northern Kosovo as a dramatic last resort to retaliate against the Contact Group backing independence for the ethnic-Albanian majority in the troubled Serbian province, some Belgrade-based diplomats and analysts say.
“However unlikely the scenario sounds, Russian troops could conceivably land in Serbia, which has several military airports conveniently close to the Kosovo border, and move into the north of the province from there, demanding their chunk of responsibility in any international peacekeeping force in the province,” the respected online publication Balkan Insight said this week. “Ukraine, Hungary, Moldova or Bulgaria would probably not attempt to use weapons to prevent Russian troop transports from flying over their countries en route for Serbia,” says Aleksander Vasovic, the Serbia editor of Balkan Insight.
“It is unlikely that NATO troops would open fire on Russian columns advancing into predominantly Serbian northern kosovo, where they would be greeted by the local population as liberators,” Mr Vasovic, a seasoned Balkans observer, adds. He acknowledges, however, that such a move would “severely undermine and set back all Serbia’s hopes of joining the European Union or NATO” and that “Western investors would also probably abandon Serbia, leaving the country prey to Russian tycoons.”
But Belgrade watchers say that Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica evidently has few options but to stick close to the Kremlin. Both the Serbs and the Russians are hailing their success in stalling the efforts by the Kosovo Albanians to become independent before the year’s end. Before contemplating the military option, Moscow can influence the EU with its natural gas shipments to Europe just as it cut supplies for short periods before to express its displeasure with Ukraine and Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin may feel that if he gives up on Kosovo, his effort to reestablish Russia as a great power would be jeopardised, says Mr Vasovic.
Meanwhile Mr Kostunica has ruled out the possibility of Serbia forging a confederation with Kosovo, an idea reportedly floated by the EU. The Serbian leader, a moderate nationalist, told the independent Beta news agency that the idea, reported by the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti, was “nonsensical.”
(John Phillips)
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Russian troops could land in Kosovo at bondasteel the largest air base in europe . If the United States and Russia are working together to fight terrorists.
Russia should ask Serbia and the United states if they can use bondasteel to help fight terrorism . However if terrorists attackting Russians and Serbs are good terrorists . And the same terrorists when attackting Spain ,England and United States are bad terrorists . Then we have a problem , the same problem president milosevic had .
Comment by eric — August 1, 2007 #
President milosevic was on trail when 9 11 happend . He managed to blurt out I had some of those guys in jail but you made me let them go .
The hague court didnt want to hear this , So they turned off his microphone . This would have been very important news to the american people . The Hague court thought this was irralivant and I guess the U S news and world report thought we would be more intrested in Bary Bonds batting average.
Comment by eric — August 1, 2007 #