Yeltsin warns US, NATO of escalation
MOSCOW, April 9 (UPI) - Russian President Boris Yeltsin has issued a
stern warning to the United States and NATO not to escalate the Balkan
crisis by sending ground troops into Kosovo, saying Russia would not
tolerate such a development.
Yeltsin said: "They (U.S. and NATO) want to move on to ground
action, they want to seize Yugoslavia and make it their protectorate. We
cannot permit that."
Yeltsin today reiterated that Russia was not planning to get involved
militarily "unless we are pushed (to do so) by the Americans."
He said, "Russia will not get involved unless forced (by NATO
actions)."
Yeltsin's sharp-worded remarks were followed by a statement by
Gennady Seleznyov ("ghen-NAH-dee seh-lehz-NYAWF"), the speaker of the
State Duma, the lower house of parliament, that Yeltsin had ordered
Russian missiles repositioned, targetting NATO.
Russia's Strategic Missile Forces command moved swiftly to deny
Seleznyov's statement, with Defense Ministry officials saying they had
received no instructions to point Russian missiles at NATO targets, but
nervousness remained.
In a separate development that could add a new dimension to the
Balkan crisis, Seleznyov said Yeltsin is seriously considering a
proposal made by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to form a full
political union among Russia, Belarus and the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia.
The Duma speaker, who had earlied today held an extensive meeting
with Yeltsin to discuss his trip to Belgrade, told stunned legislators
he had described Milosevic's proposal and Yeltsin had supported creation
of a Slav union.
In Minsk, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko told reporters he
welcomed the creation of a three-member Slav union.
On Thursday, Yeltsin appeared to have ruled out the proposal of a
union with Belgrade, calling it "inadvisable from both legal and
political points of view."
But the continuing NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia and the West's
rejection of Milosevic's cease-fire initiative have angered Moscow and
Yeltsin may have had a change of heart.
The Kremlin has avoided commenting on the formation of the union.
If Yeltsin does go ahead with the startling plan, it may also be for
a reason closer to home - the imminient impeachment bid of Yeltsin by
the Duma.
As if to confirm this scenario, Seleznyov today urged legislators to
consider postponing the impeachment process against Yeltsin because of
the Kosovo crisis and the Yugoslav proposal on union with Russia and
Belarus.
The speaker's motion was turned down by the hardliners, despite
support from a small pro-government faction.
The Communist-backed impeachment bid is set to begin on April 15.
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