Senate Bosnia vote threatens war

The worst has happened -- the U.S. Senate voted to lift the arms embargo against the Bosnian Muslims, and U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali decided to place his authority to order air raids in the hands of the blue helmets' commander. Most likely, if the embargo is lifted, Moscow will take similar measures with respect to the Serbs. So, one can say that Europe faces the threat of a war which could easily go beyond the Balkans.

It is no secret that from the very start of the Yugoslav war the U.S. has backed the Muslims. Its previous refusal to lift the embargo was apparently based on its desire as the "free world's leader" not to contradict NATO. The latest decision has put everything in its place: Washington confirmed its pro-Muslim stance.

If the bill passes the U.S. House, further developments become predictable -- French peacekeepers will be pulled out of the region and the remaining NATO members with contingents in ex- Yugoslavia will follow. The removal of all of the blue helmets and large-scale military action in Bosnia will become inevitable.

Iran has already urged Islamic states to render effective assistance to (the Bosnians), so arms will pour into the Balkans. What is even more important, advisers from the U.S. and other NATO states might appear in the Muslim camp. The Serbs will have nobody but Russia to appeal to.

Moscow seems not to rule out this kind of development. How else can one explain the intensity of recent meetings between Russian officials and the states involved in the conflict? This vividly demonstrates the "Serb" priority in Russia's Balkan policy.

The powder-magazine of Europe is on the verge of explosion.

-- Commersant, Moscow