Post by engers on Nov 30, 2007 2:44:16 GMT -5
Tory leader David Cameron issued a warning that the Balkans could be in the grip of a new armed crisis by Christmas.
Speaking during a visit to the United States, he called for Nato's military presence in the region to be strengthened and urged America to back international efforts to avoid conflict.
Addressing the Brookings Institution think-tank in Washington, he also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stirring up tensions in the former Yugoslavia.
United Nations-backed talks on the status of Kosovo - which has been administered by the UN since the 1999 conflict - are due to end by December 10 with no sign of agreement.
Serbia remains firmly opposed to independence for the province, despite the wishes of the ethnic Albanian majority to establish their own country.
Mr Cameron said that recent developments should be "setting off alarm bells" as a new conflict in the Balkans would have implications for security beyond the immediate region. "A lawless space in the Balkans would be ideal ground for al Qaida and others to take root. So preserving and enhancing stability in the Balkans is not just a moral imperative. It is fundamental to our national security," Mr Cameron said.
"Let me make it clear - there could be a new crisis in the Balkans by Christmas. That is a direct threat to our national security, and we must therefore take decisive action now to prevent it," he added.
He said that Nato needed to strengthen its military presence in the region now in order to prevent future trouble.
At the same time, Mr Cameron accused President Putin of being "less than helpful" by encouraging Serbia to hold out against moves towards Kosovo independence. "The way in which Moscow has encouraged Belgrade to up the rhetorical ante in the last six months has contributed to the rise in tension," he said.
It was now up to the Serbian government to accept the "harsh fact" that it could not expect to retain sovereignty over Kosovo, he said.
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[ftp]http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ilcZm7WpfnQTUVCF8jhC2_r-D9nw[/ftp]
Speaking during a visit to the United States, he called for Nato's military presence in the region to be strengthened and urged America to back international efforts to avoid conflict.
Addressing the Brookings Institution think-tank in Washington, he also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of stirring up tensions in the former Yugoslavia.
United Nations-backed talks on the status of Kosovo - which has been administered by the UN since the 1999 conflict - are due to end by December 10 with no sign of agreement.
Serbia remains firmly opposed to independence for the province, despite the wishes of the ethnic Albanian majority to establish their own country.
Mr Cameron said that recent developments should be "setting off alarm bells" as a new conflict in the Balkans would have implications for security beyond the immediate region. "A lawless space in the Balkans would be ideal ground for al Qaida and others to take root. So preserving and enhancing stability in the Balkans is not just a moral imperative. It is fundamental to our national security," Mr Cameron said.
"Let me make it clear - there could be a new crisis in the Balkans by Christmas. That is a direct threat to our national security, and we must therefore take decisive action now to prevent it," he added.
He said that Nato needed to strengthen its military presence in the region now in order to prevent future trouble.
At the same time, Mr Cameron accused President Putin of being "less than helpful" by encouraging Serbia to hold out against moves towards Kosovo independence. "The way in which Moscow has encouraged Belgrade to up the rhetorical ante in the last six months has contributed to the rise in tension," he said.
It was now up to the Serbian government to accept the "harsh fact" that it could not expect to retain sovereignty over Kosovo, he said.
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[ftp]http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ilcZm7WpfnQTUVCF8jhC2_r-D9nw[/ftp]