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Local conflict near Russia may start big war – General Staff

“Ever more countries are being involved in conflicts or declare the need for attacking other countries”, General Makarov said

MOSCOW, December 7 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia’s General Staff does not rule out the risk some local conflict near Russia’s border may develop into a full-scale war, the chief of Russia’s General Staff, General of the Army Nikolai Makarov, said, while answering questions from foreign military attaches, accredited in Moscow.

Asked about whether there was a risk of local conflicts near Russia’s borders might trigger a full-scale war, General Makarov said, “I cannot exclude it altogether.”

“Already now a great number of countries is involved in wars. North Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan. There are many conflicts and they tend to grow,” he said. “Ever more countries are being involved in conflicts or declare the need for attacking other countries. Under certain circumstances many states may be dragged into any conflict, and it will be real war.”

About the features of modern conflicts Makarov said, ”These days wars are fought very fast. Then post-conflict settlement begins, which may last years and decades. In this process armed forces have to address absolutely non-core tasks, and we have to foresee that, just as other countries.”