Medvedev warns against “hasty Western wars”

Source: b92

MOSCOW -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev cautioned Western powers on Thursday against launching "hasty" wars.

Dmitry Medvedev (Tanjug)

He explained that such wars could lead to the rise of radical Islamist factions and even result in regional nuclear wars, AFP has reported.
"The consequence of hasty military operations in foreign states usually means that radicals come to power," Medvedev said at the International Legal Forum in Saint Petersburg.

He said that Moscow noted numerous examples of powers infringing on the sovereignty of other states, AFP pointed out.

"And sometimes these actions, which undermine state sovereignty, could result in a fully-fledged regional war. And even, although I do not want to scare anyone, the use of a nuclear weapon," Medvedev stressed.

Medvedev’s comments were a clear reference to Russia's current standoff with the West over Syria and its earlier condemnation of NATO's air strikes against Libya.

According to AFP, the Saint Petersburg event included speeches by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and other top international dignitaries and legal scholars.

Medvedev will stand in for President Vladimir Putin, who was elected to a third term after serving four years as a prime minister, at talks starting Friday after the Russian leader pulled out citing the need to complete his new government.