Russian warning on Kosovo

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-11-2008 11:04

Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister says recognition of independence for the Serbian province of Kosovo will trigger a regional domino reaction. Sergei Ivanov gave that warning to a gathering of security and military experts in Munich.

Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister says recognition of independence for the Serbian province of Kosovo will trigger a regional domino reaction.

Moscow supports Belgrade in opposing Kosovo's secession from Serbia and has blocked a UN Security Council resolution granting the province supervised independence.

Sergei Ivanov, Russia's first deputy PM, said, "If it comes to unilateral recognition of Kosovo, that will be a precedent, that will be definitely beyond international law and that will be something close to opening a Pandora's box."

Kosovo's 90-percent Albanian majority want independence, a move backed by the west and opposed by Russia.

On Saturday, Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci announced they will declare independence on Sunday.

Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister says recognition of independence for the Serbian province of Kosovo will trigger a regional domino reaction.

The US and most of the 27-member EU back self-determination for Kosovo and its ethnic majority.

Serbia says it will use all measures, except war, to defend Serbia's territorial integrity.

Kosovo has been under UN and NATO supervision since 1999 when NATO intervention ended a Serbian crackdown on militants in the province.

Editor:Liu Fang