PRESS RELEASE
Russian Staff Chief Threatened Preventive War on Eve of Serb Elections
Jan. 20, 2008 (EIRNS)—Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky issued a direct warning to Western governments this week, that Russia reserves the right to conduct preventive war, including the use of nuclear weapons, if the sovereignty of Russia or its allies is under immediate threat. Speaking at a military conference in Moscow recently, the Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces declared, "We have no plans to attack anyone, but we consider it necessary for all our partners in the world community to clearly understand... that to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia and its allies, military forces will be used, including preventively, including with the use of nuclear weapons."
The General's sharp words came on the eve of presidential elections in Serbia, where the threat of a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo poses an immediate threat to Russian relations with Europe and the United States. Today's Serbian elections center on incumbent President Boris Tadic and nationalist candidate Tomislav Nikolic. The latter is a staunch opponent of Kosovo independence, and is seen as an ally of Moscow.
Lyndon LaRouche today called on U.S. officials to order Richard Holbrooke to shut his mouth. The former top State Department official has been a leading provocateur on the Kosovo issue, promoting its unilateral independence from the Serbian Republic, and pushing for both U.S. and European Union endorsement of it.
