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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 13 March 2018

British PM: Russia ‘highly likely’ behind ex-spy’s poisoning

By JILL LAWLESS were two possible expla-
DANICA KIRKA nations. “Either this was a
Associated Press direct act by the Russian
LONDON (AP) — Russia is state against our country,
“highly likely” to blame for or the Russian government
poisoning a former spy and lost control of this poten-
his daughter with a military- tially catastrophically dam-
grade nerve agent, British aging nerve agent and
Prime Minister Theresa May allowed it to get into the
said Monday, demanding hands of others,” she said.
that Moscow give a com- May said Britain had given
pelling explanation or face the Russian ambassador in
“extensive” retaliation. London a deadline of Tues-
May told lawmakers in a day to explain which ver-
strongly worded statement sion is true. She said Russia
that without a credible re- must also “provide full and
sponse from Russia by the complete disclosure” of its
end of Tuesday, Britain Novichok program to the
would consider the attack Organization for the Prohi-
on Sergei Skripal and his bition of Chemical Weap-
daughter in a quiet Eng- ons, the oversight body for
lish city “an unlawful use the international chemical
of force by the Russian weapons convention.
state against the United May spoke in the House
Kingdom.” “There can be Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May speaks in the House of Commons in London, Monday, March of Commons after she
no question of business as 12, 2018. British Prime Minister Theresa May says her government has concluded it is “highly likely” chaired a National Securi-
usual with Russia,” she said, Russia is responsible for the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter. May told British lawmakers ty Council meeting to hear
without saying what mea- on Monday that Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were exposed to a nerve agent known as the latest evidence in the
Novichok (Novice), a weapon developed in the Soviet Union in the end of the Cold War.
sures Britain might take. (PA via AP) case. q
Russian Foreign Minis-
try spokeswoman Maria
Zakharova dismissed May’s Serbia blasts top NATO general over Russia
allegations as a “circus
show in in the British Parlia-
ment.” By D. STOJANOVIC nian separatists. more susceptible to Russian via in the 1990s.
Skripal, 66, and his 33-year- Associated Press The American general said influence. “There’s no Russian influ-
old daughter, Yulia, remain BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — he has seen an increase in Vulin, who is known for ence in Serbia,” Vulin said.
in critical condition after Serbia’s defense minister Russian influence over his his pro-Russian stances, “Serbia is an independent
being found unconscious blasted NATO’s top general year and a half as supreme responded by saying: nation that chooses its own
March 4 in Salisbury. A po- on Monday for saying that NATO commander in Eu- “Since 1999, there has not friends.”
lice detective who came one of the biggest threats rope and that he sees it as been a more irresponsible Scaparrotti said during the
in contact with them is in for Europe is increasing Rus- more threatening than in statement.“By saying that Senate hearing that “Rus-
serious but stable condi- sian influence in the Bal- the Baltics, former Russian the whole (Serbian) nation sia’s at work in the Balkans.
tion. kans.Aleksandar Vulin said satellites Lithuania, Latvia represents a danger for the I think we’ve kind of taken
May said British scientists that U.S. Army Gen. Curtis and Estonia. Balkans is a call for the uni- our eye off the area.”
have determined that Skri- Scaparrotti’s statement last Scaparrotti said that while fication of all (Balkan peo- Serbia formally wants to join
pal and his daughter were week during a U.S. Senate the Baltic region in the ple) against the Serbs.” the EU, but its leaders have
poisoned with Novichok, a Armed Services Commit- north of Europe is crucial, There are fears in the West been intensively working
class of nerve agent devel- tee hearing represents the those nations are now part that Russia is using its his- with Moscow in fostering
oped by the Soviet Union most “dangerous” anti- of NATO and have a more toric Slavic ties with Serbia both military and political
near the end of the Cold Serb statement since the stable position on the con- to destabilize the Balkans, ties despite calls from the
War. Western military alliance tinent. He said he was which has seen the worst bloc that the Balkan state
She said it was “highly like- bombed the country in more concerned with the carnage in Europe since should align its foreign poli-
ly” the substance came 1999 over its bloody crack- support of Serbian people World War II during the cies if it really wants to be a
from Russia, and there down against Kosovo Alba- within the Balkans who are breakup of former Yugosla- member.q