Russia issues new warning over Kosovo independence

A unilateral declaration of independence by Serbia's Kosovo province would violate international law and damage security in Europe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday.

He said the US and European countries did not understand the potential consequences of independence for Kosovo, whose Albanian leaders are expected to announce the move on Sunday in defiance of Serbia.

"It would undermine the basics of security in Europe, it would undermine the basics of the United Nations charter," Mr Lavrov told reporters in Geneva.

He said Western countries were dealing with the problem in a "haphazard" way.

"Many of them, frankly, do not understand the risks and dangers and threats associated with a unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence," he said. "They do not understand that it would inevitably result in a chain reaction in many parts of the world, including Europe and elsewhere."

Kosovo's independence move has been delayed three times in the past year in deference to Russia's insistence on continuing to search for a compromise and because of its explosive impact on Serbian politics. Kosovo is Serbia's mediaeval homeland but is now dominated by the two million Albanians who live there. It has been administered by the UN with Nato peacekeeping since 1999.

Its independence is expected to be recognised by the US and a large number of EU members. Russia cannot stop independence but has blocked recognition by the United Nations.