Russia would not recognize a unilateral declaration of independence by
Kosovo, President President Vladimir Putin said Friday in Sofia.
Unlike the United States and most European Union countries that see
the Kosovo talks between Belgrade and Pristina as failed and finished,
Russia wants the negotiations to continue.
Kosovo leaders however also said that they were through talking
with Belgrade and were preparing to declare independence from Serbia,
possibly within weeks.
While the US and leading EU states plan to recognize Kosovo as a
new country, Russia supports Serbia's claim over the province and has
warned that the case could trigger a tidal wave of separatism.
Speaking to reporters in Sofia, where he was ending a two-day visit
on Friday, Putin described the support of the unilateral declaration of
independence in Kosovo as "illegal and immoral."
Russia has blocked Kosovo's independence in the United Nations last year.
Following the failure of another set of talks late in 2007, Kosovo
Albanian leaders and the West said that only the unilateral declaration
of independence and bilateral recognitions remained as an immediate
option.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country currently holds the six-month rotating European Union presidency, said Friday that the EU must have a common position ahead of Kosovo's
declaration of independence.
"There is a need for the EU to have a common voice," Rupel said
following a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from 10 Mediterranean
members of the EU at the Cypriot resort of Paphos.
"Most EU members would like Cyprus, Greece and maybe some other
country to assume a position that would enable us to move forward," he
said, adding "the position of Greece and Cyprus is known but hopefully
this can change."
Cyprus has repeatedly voiced its opposition to the breakaway
Serbian province seeking independence, fearing it could set a precedent
that would legitimise the breakaway of the Turkish Cypriot state on the
northern third of the island.
The two days of informal talks also focused on the Middle East and illegal immigration.
