Russia threatens 'brute force'; Kosovo; Breakaway is 'in breach of UN mandate'
National Post (f/k/a The Financial Post) (Canada) All But Toronto And Vancouver Edition - February 23, 2008 Saturday

By: Steven Edwards, Canwest News Service, With Files From Elizabeth Thompson

UNITED NATIONS - The international split over Kosovo grew more ominous yesterday as Russia raised the spectre of using force to back Serbia's bid to retain the territory.

Russia's envoy to NATO warned the Western military alliance, which has a 16,000-strong peacekeeping force in Kosovo, and the European Union against formally backing Pristina's declaration of independence.

"If the European Union works out a common position, or if NATO breaches its mandate in Kosovo, these organizations will be in conflict with the United Nations," said Dmitry Rogozin. Russia believes the UN Security Council resolution on Kosovo does not authorize a unilateral move to independence.

"We, too, would then have to proceed from the view that in order to be respected, we must use brute force, in other words armed force."

He spoke a day after a mob in the Serbian capital Belgrade torched the U.S. embassy. They were among 250,000 people attending a rally protesting Pristina's unilateral declaration of independence move .

The EU has not collectively ruled on Kosovo, but pledged to send a 2,000-strong administrative-support mission to take over from the UN, which has run the territory since NATO's 1999 bombing campaign forced the Serb army to withdraw.

Mikhail Kamynin, the Russian Foreign Minister, said the United States and "other forces that supported Kosovo's proclamation should have been aware of the consequences ."

While analysts see the Russian remarks as sabre-rattling, they believe such talk could en-courage more violence.

"Bellicose language from the Russians is not helpful," said retired U.S. Major General William Nash, who was UN regional administrator in northern Kosovo in 2000.

In Washington, the State Department demanded Moscow repudiate Mr. Rogozin's words, characterizing what he said as "cynical and ahistorical."

"We strongly advise Russia to be more responsible in its public comments toward Kosovo," said Nicholas Burns, the third-ranking State Department official.

The world is almost evenly split over the issue, with countries' positions appearing to reflect their internal concerns.

Canada is one of more than 25 countries that have yet to make their position clear.

About 20 nations ruled against recognition. They include Argentina, which seeks to end British rule in the Falklands, and Cyprus and Spain, with separatist movements.

Yesterday, Jean Chretien, the former prime minister, said Canada should be wary, given the existence of the sovereigntist movement in Quebec.

It was "a delicate problem" because Ottawa's decision could have repercussions much closer to home, he said.

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