Gennady Zyuganov

Belgrade, Jan 31 (Tanjug) - Russia's communist leader Gennady Zyuganov says that there is awareness in Russia that the policy of Yugoslavia and its President Slobodan Milosevic is the last and only barrier standing in the way of the West's march on Russia.

Zyuganov, who heads the National Patriotic Alliance, was speaking for TANJUG, Serbian Radio and Television, and the Politika and Borba newspapers before leaving Belgrade after a three-day visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He stressed that it was not only understood but also felt in Russia that support for Yugoslavia was in fact support for Russia's own independence.

This was understood by all parties, which was why they were uniting and why the people were united in the belief that Yugoslavia must not be allowed to be dismembered, as that would lead to the collapse of Russia and would trigger a global catastrophe, he said.

He added he was glad that during his Yugoslav visit he had seen virtually universal support for the policy of the government, spearheaded by Milosevic, in favour of the country's territorial integrity, dignity and independence.

Speaking about the present international political situation, he said that "we are at the epicentre of a new global division, the third in this century, which might prove tragic for the planet as a whole, and for Europe in particular."

The current war for a new global division, with those who had lost the Second World War riding again, was being waged by financial, information and psychological weapons, which was clear to many in Europe and in Russia, he said.

He said he knew this at first hand, from his meetings over the recent years with government and parliament officials from virtually all world countries, adding they feared that the protagonists of the new global division might fan a war in the Balkans.

Europe, where both world wars originated, does not need another war, but the United States does, because it fears a united Europe, because economically and financially Europe is not weaker than the United States and is its chief rival, according to Zyuganov.

In order to prevent this, it was necessary to fan a fire in the Balkans, to complicate the situation there and again divide Europe with a stiff demarcation line, and then continue to dictate terms to it, he said.

The essence is simple - to break Yugoslavia, and then to dismember Russia, after which Europe will be no competition at all, according to Zyuganov.

He stressed this was clearly understood in France, Italy, Spain and many other countries, but they were too afraid of the United States because of what it had done in Iraq, Somalia and elsewhere.

Zyuganov further warned of a new theory of world domination - subjugate fuels and information space and use new kinds of biological weapons. "This is a very dangerous thing. They will no longer need weapons of mass destruction, primarily nuclear weapons, in order to attain their goals," he said.

This position was one of urging a political and diplomatic solution to Kosovo-Metohija's problems, with maximum respect for the territorial integrity and interests of Yugoslavia - the Russians' friend and ally, he explained.

Speaking about the prospects of Russian-Yugoslav relations, he said that Russia's attitude to Yugoslavia was not changing, i.e., that their fraternal relations and historical alliance were motivated by their strategic interest, and not convenience.

He urged quicker and firmer movement towards establishing direct contacts between whole production groups and regions in bilateral economic cooperation.

Zyuganov stressed that the National Patriotic Alliance of Russia would continue to support Yugoslavia, and that together they would be able to surmount the present problems.