Serbia, Russia Blast Kosovo Independence

Serbia won't cooperate, Putin hits 'hypocrasy' of Western support
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 14, 2008 1:09 PM CST
Serbia, Russia Blast Kosovo Independence
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 presidency Thursday, taking dozens of questions from more than 1,000 Russian and foreign journalists...   (Associated Press)

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. (More Vladimir Putin stories.)

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