NATO air strikes cause anxiety, says Govt

But even as the Government was putting its statement together, Yugoslav8217;s Ambassador to India Cedomir Strbac told journalists that his country was now seeking 8220;further diplomatic action besides moral and political support8221; from New Delhi, against the 8220;open and unprovoked aggression8221; by NATO forces.

In the wake of the continued United States-led air strikes against Iraq, India feels that the Kosovo bombings are a mere cover for Western nations to impose their will against a nation 8212; in this case,Yugoslavia 8212; which would rather seek its own solutions.

8220;India expresses its serious concern over NATO air strikes on the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,8221; the statement said. 8220;Such unilateral moves, even if taken as regional initiatives but without the due authorisation of the UN Security Council, seriously undermine the authority of the entire UN System8230; Besides, this demonstration of NATO8217;s extra-territorial engagement is a development that can only cause anxiety,8221; it added.

The strength of the statement is also based on New Delhi8217;s fears that if any community is allowed to get away with such unilateral action, the time may come when it is used to justify interference in Kashmir.

Even though India does not consider the truncated Yugoslavia unlike Russia vis-a-vis the Soviet Union, the inheritor state of the former Yugoslav republic, its statement today is unambiguous about the fact that force is not the way out.

8220;The present crisis8230; can only be resolved through peacefulmeans and a solution found within the framework of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yugoslavia,8221; it said.

Strbac told journalists that NATO8217;s aggression was unprecedented since World War II. It marked the end of the rule of international law and flew in the face of the UN charter which clearly stipulates that no enforcement action can be undertaken under 8220;regional arrangements8221; without the authorisation of the Security Council. But, he added, Belgrade was grateful for the moral support provided by two permanent members of the Security Council, Russia and China.

8220;NATO8217;s behaviour represents a criminal act of criminals against an independent country,8221; he said, accusing US President Bill Clinton of either 8220;lying8221; or being 8220;completely ignorant8221; of the situation. He denied Western media reports that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic had rejected the peace talks in Paris.

According to initial reports, he added, five civilians had been killed and 30 seriouslyinjured.

Meanwhile, political parties here have condemned the air strikes. The Congress said that the military acts against any member state of the UN should not be resorted to without the sanction of the Security Council. 8220;The territorial integrity of a sovereign state is inviolable,8221; party general secretary Pranab Mukherjee said.

Former Prime Minister I K Gujral said NATO8217;s reprehensible action was worrisome for all those who were not part of this single military alliance.

The Left parties, who felt that the Indian Government8217;s reaction to the air strikes was rather mild, said any vacillation, in terms of not being categorical in its response, would only provide grist to the mill of 8220;imperialist skull-duggery.8221;

The Communist Party of India Marxist noted that with the dismantling of the erstwhile USSR, the raison d8217;etre for NATO8217;s existence had ceased. 8220;Instead of dismantling the NATO, US Imperialism is seeking its eastward expansion co-opting other countries into its designs to imposeits hegemony over the world,8221; it said.

The CPI expressed its dismay over the 8220;sober and restrained8221; reaction of the Indian Government to the air strikes.