Ivasov: <x0Pin lies são ask whether to enter Kosovo”

The anniversary of the Russian sly entry into Kosovo (11 June 1999), has become a major divisive topic in Vladimir Putin's Russia. Russian Army generals have fought hard on a Russian television for the motives of the Russian troops' entry, giving various reasons, broadcast Serbian media. In fact, the main reason, that of the Serbian “protection has never even been mentioned, thus arguing that the Russians never act anything without seeing their interest.

It has all started after Putin's statement that he had issued orders for the deployment of Russian military forces at Pristina Airport. Putin had said he had talked with Russian Army Chief of Staff General Anatoly Kwasnin, and that he had allowed Russian forces to enter Pristina Airport.

Putin's statement has prompted retired Russian General Leonid Ivasov, who in 1999 was chief of the Russian Army's main international co-operation sector, to provide an interview with Russian media as a participant.

Iwasov has denied Putin in Russian media, saying the order for intervention in Kosovo has been given by former defence minister Igor Sergeyev and Boris Jelcini.

According to Ivasov, Putin's statement, after realizing that Russian troops' entry into Kosovo would be made for another Russian evental interest in relation to the West, as a trade card, is false. Putin, according to him, has said the Russians in Kosovo did not enter for the “protection of Serbs”.

In “chronice TV Rain” also reportedly could not give orders at the time, since he was not prime minister, but was only chairman of the Security Council and FSB.

The Russians entered Kosovo a day before NATO forces. Their four-year stand was marked for numerous scandals. Confrontation with Albanians; the sexual exploitation of Serb minors in the enclaves in Kosovo, up to the kidnappings of workers at the nightclubs, were just some of the scandals they did within the years.