(4 Jun 1999) Russian/Nat
Russia's special envoy to Kosovo, Viktor Chernomyrdin, has been given a tough time on his return to Moscow after securing a peace plan to end the war between NATO and Yugoslavia.
Chernomyrdin returned from Belgrade on Thursday and announced the breakthrough in the Kosovo peace settlement process.
But some hard-line Russian politicians have not greeted the news so positively.
Even President Boris Yeltsin's government has given only a lukewarm reception to Yugoslavia's acceptance of Western demands.
Both communists and hard-line nationalists in Russia are accusing Balkans envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin of selling out both Serbian and Russian interests in the Balkans.
The Duma will convene a special session later on Friday to debate Chernomyrdin's role in the peace process.
The Communist Party leader, Gennady Zyuganov, believes the capitulation of the Yugoslav leadership sets a dangerous precedent.
He thinks the U-S's dominance could threaten Russian interests.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"No one knows for sure what kind of agreement Chernomyrdin has reached yesterday. I hope the people from the government will appear today at the Duma and tell us what is it all about. I see that the Americans insist on the capitulation of Yugoslavia. That kind of solution won't create peace, moreover it will create a dangerous precedent. For us, it is obvious who might become their next target: Russia or Ukraine."
SUPER CAPTION: Gennady Zyuganov, Communist Party leader
The Ultra-nationalist leader, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, was equally sceptical of the deal's worth.
He said Chernomyrdin had sold out Russian and Yugoslav interests.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"It is a complete sellout of Kosovo. Only the Albanians will return there while the Serbs won't be allowed to. The Albanians will destroy all the Serb holy places like the monasteries. They will kill all the nuns and commit genocide against all the Serbs. And all of that under the protection of NATO troops. Moreover, the Russian soldiers will be forced to guard the Albanians."
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Russian Ultra-nationalist leader and head of Liberal Democratic Party
However, some support did come from an old ally.
Business tycoon and former Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Boris Berezovsky described Chernomyrdin as a "hero" who proved to the world Russian diplomacy can succeed.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"What happened yesterday is a real victory for the Russian diplomacy in the most complicated situation for Russia. Viktor (Chernomyrdin) performed a truly heroic act. He came under such strong criticism - that he wasn't the right man for the job, that he was being unprofessional and so on - but Viktor Stepanovich (Chernomyrdin) has defended Russia's strategic interests in a situation critical and complex for both Russia and the world."
SUPER CAPTION: Boris Berezovsky, business tycoon and former Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council
The Russian government has yet to offer any strong endorsement or formal comment on Yugoslavia's decision to accept the plan.
President Boris Yeltsin, who appointed Chernomyrdin, spoke to the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder by telephone on Friday.
He told Schroeder that Yugoslavia's acceptance of the peace plan left no reason to continue the airstrikes.
The Russian leader was briefed by Chernomyrdin before the envoy went on to Finland for additional talks on Friday.
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