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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lurqer who wrote (40850)	3/30/2004 11:53:52 AM
From: lurqer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

While yesterdays expansion of NATO was disturbing to Moscow, the inclusion of three Baltic former Soviet republics was particularly galling. NATO planes stationed on former Soviet territory is a clear "stop sign" for those that see Putin's Russia as the start of a new Russian expansion. Just because I don't favor an American hegemony, doesn't mean I'm oblivious to the perils of a Russian or Chinese one. JMO Russia expels Lithuanian envoys amid growls at NATO expansion MOSCOW : Russia expelled three Lithuanian diplomats in a tit-for-tat move that underscored growing anger in Moscow at NATO's expansion right up to its borders into the three former Soviet Baltic republics. The Russian foreign ministry said that the three diplomats were being expelled for activities incompatible with their status -- a euphemism for spying -- and had 48 hours to leave the country. The Lithuanian charge d'affaires was summoned to the foreign ministry and informed that "three staff of the Lithuanian embassy in Moscow have been declared persona non grata and have two days to leave Russia," a statement said. As is customary, the foreign ministry did not give the identity of the expelled diplomats, saying merely that their activities had "harmed the interests of Russia." The former Soviet republic of Lithuania on February 27 announced that it had expelled three Russian diplomats for spying, provoking a diplomatic row with Moscow just weeks before it joined both NATO and the European Union. Lithuania became a member of the US-led military alliance on Monday and will join the European Union on May 1. The three alleged Russian spies, who were not identified, posed a threat to Lithuania, the European Union and NATO security, the Baltic country's state security department said. "These diplomats belonged to Russian intelligence, and using intelligence means and methods have been collecting economic and military information, seeking confidential contacts with Lithuanian citizens and officials from different institutions," it said. The spying row added more fuel to the political crisis surrounding President Rolandas Paksas, who is threatened with impeachment over a corruption scandal implicating a Russian businessman. The announcement prompted an angry reaction from Moscow which described the move as an "unfriendly act" to which it reserved the right to retaliate. Russia also denounced the rise of "anti-Russian forces" in Lithuania amid growing tensions between Moscow and NATO over the alliance's decision to station warplanes in the Baltic republics. NATO on Monday signed up seven new countries in Eastern Europe at a ceremony in Washington as Russia again expressed disquiet over the biggest increase in NATO membership since it was founded at the height of the Cold War in 1949. Russia is particularly concerned about the inclusion of the Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. All are former Soviet republics that could now provide a base for NATO troops on the Russian border. channelnewsasia.com lurqer