2 minutes agoPutin confessed after 21 years for why the Russians invaded Pristina Airport
Periskopi(6 years ago)
(6 years ago)Russia's President Vladimir Putin has said he was part of the decision-making when Russian forces had invaded Pristina Airport after NATO forces entered Kosovo. The whole event had taken place on June 12, 1999, when Russian forces had first entered the airport and refused to leave despite [...] intervention.
The whole event had taken place on June 12, 1999, when Russian forces had entered the airport first and refused to leave despite NATO forces' intervention.
Putin says he has given his opinion on this intervention, saying they can invade Pristina Airport if such action is appropriate.
This is what I said: If you think it's appropriate, do it”, Putin added, writes B92
” I was then the Secretary of the Security Council. Chief of General Staff, then General Anatoly Kwashn approached me and told me there was an idea to invade this airport. When asked why? ” “It was clear that we would have to leave there one day, but we would have something to negotiate”, Putin told television Russia 1.
Russian forces deployed in Bosnia were headed towards Kosovo on the morning of June 12th and had managed to take over Pristina airport. It had been NATO and the leaders of the North Atlantic Alliance, but there had been no resistance.
Leader NATO, American Wesley Clark, had ordered the Russian forces to stumble, but that the same order was not implemented by KFOR forces leader in Skopje Mike Jackson, who had said he was willing to launch a Third World War.
On June 17, 2001, Russian President Vladimir Putin had visited Russian troops at Pristina airport.
Russian forces had left Kosovo on July 2, 2003, after causing several scandals and violations in the countries where they had served, mainly in Serb enclaves.
Kosovo has marked on June 12th the day of its liberation from Serbia, which has killed more than 10,000 people, violated more than 20 thousand women and men, killed more than a thousand children and deported more than a million Albanians from Kosovo. The second Albanian state in the Balkans has been declared independent on February 17th 2008.
Russia has always given Serbia support until it has fought and obstructed Kosovo in any step it has taken in the international field, not allowing membership in international organisations including the UN.
