Posted on 02/22/2008 5:57:24 AM PST by jhpigott
Russia's ambassador to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, has warned that Russia could use military force if the Kosovo independence dispute escalates. "If the EU develops a unified position or if Nato exceeds its mandate set by the UN, then these organisations will be in conflict with the UN," he said.
In that case Russia would "proceed on the basis that in order to be respected we need to use brute force", he said.
Many EU members have recognised Kosovo, but several oppose recognition.
Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, backs Serbia, which has condemned the independence declaration issued by the Kosovo parliament on 17 February.
On Tuesday members of the Serb minority in Kosovo attacked two border posts staffed by UN personnel and Kosovo police.
The violence led the Nato troops in Kosovo - known as K-For - to reinforce the border with Serbia.
Kosovo's majority ethnic Albanians are following a plan drawn up by UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari for "supervised independence", which was rejected by Serbia.
The EU will soon deploy 2,000 officials to strengthen law and order in Kosovo, which has a population of about two million. Russia argues that the mission has no legal basis.
Exactly what is the point of your question?
nice language
In the words of President Bush, “Bring it on.”
If they are willing to put their military in Kosovo, NATO may not be willing to stand up to them.
you may be right, but that’s an awfully big risk to take, politically or from a military point of view for Russia
NATOs not dumb, they know Russia doesn’t have the wherewithall to project enough military might to oust NATO from Kosovo short of a marching troops and equipment thru Indian territory. So long as NATO stands firm, Russia can go pound sand and that equals a bad day for them politically
without any credible threat of force, all NATO has to do is remain firm and Russia gets embarrassed.
I still think Russia is going to end up playing games in Georgia in response to all this. Russian CAN project real military might in that little corner of the world if it so desires
I’ve thought for some time that the war was inevitable, but I would have thought It would start with the bad guys in the wrong.
Don’t forget China and Islam, China and the Latin American Marxists, and China in Africa.
Wrong. This is about preventing the rebirth of the Soviet Empire and we’re on the moral high ground for it.
Putin says Russia won’t be drawn into arms race
Published: 02.22.08, 21:08 / Israel News
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia won’t be drawn into an arms race but would find “adequate measures” to respond to any military forces deployed near its borders.
Putin’s comments, coming on the eve of a patriotic holiday, were the latest from the Russian leader suggesting that the West - NATO and the United States, in particular - were trying to provoke a new arms race. (AP)
Not so, if that were true then the dems/socialists/SD would all be on the other side of this don't ya know....they pine for the old USSR.
I 100% agree with that. Easiest for Russia. Much easier for them to do as NATO is not in place and has no treaty with Georgia.
For Serbs KOSOVO = ALAMO !
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