Moscow urges Muslim states to not recognise Kosovo
Russia has opposed an independent Kosovo and given its support to Serbia
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Parlophone, March 24th . |  |
Tuesday, 18, Mar 2008 02:31
Russia has urged Muslim states to ignore pressure to recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence.
In an interview with the state newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said the state, which is predominantly Muslim, has been "illegally formed".
The comments come ahead of his trip to meet leaders in the Middle East.
"I would like to warn against the temptation to give in to calls from non-Arab and non-Islamic states addressed to Islamic countries to show Islamic solidarity and recognise Kosovo," he said.
Mr Lavrov warned that what is happening in Kosovo helped trigger anti-China protests in Tibet.
"Disorder has also begun in other countries, you can see what's happening in the Chinese autonomous region of Tibet," he said.
Russia has opposed an independent Kosovo and given its support to Serbia, saying Belgrade's consent is mandatory in any resolution on the country.
Earlier today it was announced that a Ukrainian police officer serving with the United Nations in Kosovo died of injuries he sustained in clashes with Serbs on Monday.