Russian President Boris Yeltsin described Nato's action as an aggressive act, and a "gross mistake." Russia is a traditional ally of the Serbs and favours a negotiated settlement of the Kosovo dispute. Both President Yeltsin and his prime minister, Yevgeny Primakov, have insisted that the Western powers must take Russia's views into account. Both clearly feel Russia was snubbed since Nato acted without the authorisation of the UN Security Council - where Russia is one of the five permanent members.
Russian leaders face conflicting pressures. Some nationalists and communists have pressed the government to make a military response to Nato's action in the Balkans - an idea Mr Yeltsin has firmly rejected. But while he can't ignore domestic opinion on the issue, neither can he afford to jeopardise Russia's relations with Western governments or with big financial institutions like the IMF. Analysts are therefore watching what Russia does rather than what it says.
|
