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Serbia, Russia Blast Kosovo Independence

Posted Feb 14, 08 1:09 PM CST in World 

(Newser) – Serbian and Russian leaders today lambasted Kosovo's imminent declaration of independence from Serbia, the Guardian reports. Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica declared the move illegal, and said his government won't cooperate with European efforts to keep Kosovo running. Russian President Vladimir Putin blasted as "immoral and illegal" Western nations' plans to recognize the province's independence.

Putin’s words came ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on the matter, though Kosovo’s prime minister claims “the Kosovo issue has already left the security council building." The move is expected to be made official Sunday; the UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands would soon thereafter recognize Kosovo as an independent country, with the US shortly following.

Source Guardian (UK)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during the live broadcast of a press conference, in a Moscow shop on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Vladimir Putin held the last annual news conference of his eight-year...   (Associated Press)
The interior of a supermarket is seen reflected on the screen of an in store television as Russian President Vladimir Putin gives a live a press conference in a Moscow on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Vladimir...   (Associated Press)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin, left, speaks with Albanian President Alfred Moisiu in Zagreb, Croatia, June 24, 2007. While Kosovo remains a province of Serbia, it has been under U.N. and NATO administration...   (Associated Press)
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Russia • Vladimir Putin • Serbia • Kosovo • Security Council • Kosovar independence • Vojislav Kostunica


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