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(18 Dec 1998) Serbo-Croat/Rus/Nat Russian premier Yevgeny Primakov warned that the Iraqi crisis may require Moscow to take a closer look at its role in the Balkans. Speaking during a meeting with Croatian president Franjo Tudjman Friday, Primakov said Russia and Croatia had common interests in averting the use of force in the Balkans, hinting at the possibility of NATO action in the former Yugoslavia. Croatian President Franjo Tudjman is in Moscow for a two-day official visit that is to include talks with Russian leader Boris Yeltsin. The two were scheduled to meet in November, but the meeting was postponed due to Yeltsin's health problems. Tudjman's first meeting on Thursday was with the Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov who has been heavily preoccupied with the Iraq crisis. He reportedly spoke late on Thursday with U-S vice president Al Gore and repeated Moscow's condemnation of the bombing campaign against Iraq. Russia has recalled its ambassadors from both Washington and Britain in a move underlining the strength of Russia's opposition to the U-S and British airstrikes. He made an oblique reference to the situation during the talks. SOUNDBITE (Russian) “(We have common interests) especially in the Balkans. I think we should take an even closer look at the situation there in the light of what is taking place in Iraq. We are interested in there being stability and peace in the centre of Europe and in no one using force that would undoubtedly worsen the situation.“ SUPERCAPTION: Yevgeny Primakov, Russian Prime Minister Tudjman avoided mentioning the Iraqi crisis directly, but voiced Croatia's support for an increased role in world affairs by Russia. SOUNDBITE (Serbo-Croat) (approximate translation “We live in a world today in which it is becoming more and more clear that it is essential for Russia to play a role on the international stage as a 'great power'“ SUPERCAPTION: Franjo Tudjman, Croatian President The trip to Russia was Tudjman's first since he came to power in 1991 and led his country to independence from the former Yugoslav federation. Russia has been a traditional ally of Serbs, with whom it shares Orthodox Christian religion. But Russia now shows “more balanced“ approach to the ex-Yugoslav countries according to the Croatian ambassador to Moscow, Hidajet Biscevic. Tudjman also is to discuss Russia's U-S 1.5 billion dollar debt to the former Yugoslav nations, which it inherited from the old Soviet Union. The debt is to be divided among the former Yugoslav republics,with Croatia getting about 28 percent. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive:
