  Nonperturbative contribution to the one-gluon exchange produces a universal
linear term in the static potential at small distances $\Delta V=\frac{6N_c
\alpha_s \sigma r}{2\pi}$. Its role in the resolution of long--standing
discrepancies in the fine splitting of heavy quarkonia and improved agreement
with lattice data for static potentials is discussed, as well as implications
for OPE violating terms in other processes.
