Russian Foreign Minister Warns West Over Supporting Kosovo

Moscow, Russia (AHN) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has issued a warning Tuesday against any unilateral declaration of independence by the local government in Kosovo, saying such a decree would violate international law and damage Europe's security.

"It would undermine the basics of security in Europe, and it would undermine the basics of the United Nations charter," Lavrov said a day after the European Union announced it would send a peacekeeping force to help secure a bloodless transition towards autonomy.

The Serbian province, Kosovo, could declare its independence as early as Sunday with its status expected to be acknowledged by Western countries. However, Lavrov warned that the move would illicit serious consequences but the Western countries deal with the issue haphazardly.

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

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his stand on the issue saying that, "Russia is categorically against a unilateral declaration of independence."

"This would risk provoking serious damage to the whole of the international legal system and would have negative consequences both for the Balkans and the world," he added.