MOSCOW CAUTIOUS ON NATO DEPLOYMENT TO ALBANIA.

A Russian Foreign Ministryspokesman yesterday reiterated Moscow’s objections to the launching by NATOof military operations outside the borders of its member countries withoutsanction by the UN Security Council. (Russian agencies, June 2) Thestatement out of Moscow follows up remarks by Russian Foreign MinisterYevgeny Primakov made during last week’s meeting of NATO foreign ministersin Luxembourg. Primakov suggested then that Moscow was willing to showflexibility on proposals that NATO deploy troops in Albania along itstroubled border with Kosovo. But Primakov also said in Luxembourg thatMoscow would insist any such action first would require Security Councilapproval. (Reuter, May 30)

Primakov’s remarks would appear to reflect two concerns. The first isMoscow’s discomfort over a greater role for the West in resolving the Kosovocrisis. Moscow has allied itself firmly with the Serbian leadership inBelgrade and has spoken out repeatedly against both the West’s allegedanti-Serb bias and calls in the West for possible intervention in thecrisis. Secondly, and more broadly, Moscow opposes any enhancedinternational role for NATO outside of Europe. “We should not create aprecedent when NATO acts outside the territories of its member-stateswithout a relevant decision by the UN Security Council,” Primakov said in aninterview published on May 30. (Reuter, May 30) Russia is a permanent memberof the UN Security Council and would have veto power over any NATO operationbrought before that body for approval.

NATO “FLYING RADAR” ON EXERCISE IN LITHUANIA.