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AGENCIES
Moscow, June 26: The first contingent of Russian troops is set to arrive in Kosovo to join Nato's peacekeeping operation. Their arrival comes amid growing concern about the security situation in the province following an upsurge of violence. An advanced group of Russian specialists will be the first to fly into Pristina airport, which has been closed since about 200 Russian soldiers beat Nato forces into Kosovo two weeks ago, provoking a stand-off between the two sides.
A senior Russian Defence Ministry official, General Leonid Ivashov, said that the technical personnel would "take part in equipping" the airport, before more Russian troops arrive on Monday. General Ivashov said that in the case of "political complications" concerning disarmament or the arrest of indicted war criminals, a decision would be taken in Moscow, possibly even with the consent of President Yeltsin.
It is still not clear where the Russian troops, who will eventually number around 3,000, will be stationed inKosovo. Many ethnic Albanians are nervous at the thought of a Russian presence, and there are concerns that if the Russians are assigned to prodominantly Serb districts, it could lead to a de facto partition of Kosovo. Aid agencies are eager to see the stand-off with the Russians resolved and Pristina airport reopened for humanitarian flights.
Law and order fears Serb civilians have continued to flee Kosovo following widespread unrest and an upsurge of violence which is out of the control of Nato peacekeepers. Speaking in Washington, President Bill Clinton said: "Nato is not letting it happen. We're doing what we can to stop it and I'm concerned about it. I'm not particularly surprised, after what they've been through." Nato's commander in Kosovo, General Sir Michael Jackson, appealed to Serbs not to leave the province, pledging that his forces would do all they could to ensure their safety. Gunman killed US Marines came under attack from unidentified gunmen in Gnjilane on Fridayevening.
In the second such incident this week, the Marines killed one of the gunmen, but it was not clear whether he was a Serb or ethnic Albanian. Nato says 14 civilians have been killed in the Kosovo capital Pristina since Thursday, the worst period of violence since the peacekeeping force was deployed.
Hundreds of thousands of Kosovo Albanians who fled the province since March have now returned in what aid officials are calling one of the largest spontaneous returns in 25 years. Many of the returnees are determined on revenge against Serbs, whom they blame for their plight. Serb media reported that officials and church representatives in Belgrade had complained that the Kosovo border with Albania was completely open and that many Albanian citizens were entering Kosovo as well.
The state of war which Belgrade imposed throughout Yugoslavia three months ago is due to be lifted on Saturday. Emergency powers allowing the Yugoslav government to control the economy and the media are due togo, but opposition politicians fear that some restrictions will continue.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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