Text of statement by Russian President Boris Yeltsin on Russian Public TV, 1st April 1999
In spite of the most resolute steps by Russia, Nato's military action against Yugoslavia continues to expand, unfortunately.
There is a danger that this escalation will turn into a great tragedy, and not only for the Europeans.
This should not be allowed to happen.
The Kosovo problem must be settled and can be settled at the negotiating table.
And Primakov became convinced of this when he talked to Milosevic.
I instructed the Russian foreign minister today to urgently appeal to the G8 foreign ministers to hold an emergency meeting of foreign ministers to work out ways of overcoming the crisis as soon as possible.
Every wasted day brings new fatalities and tragedies.
It is necessary to act immediately.
Source: Russian Public TV, Moscow, in Russian 1100 gmt 1 Apr 99
BBC Monitoring (http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk), based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.
Media reports
Uzbekistan voices security concerns
Russia's media war over Chechnya
Russian press split over 'haughty' West