MOSCOW, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russia will not recognize Kosovo's independence if it is proclaimed, a senior Russian official handling the problem of the Kosovo settlement told reporters here on Wednesday.

    "According to some reports, Kosovo may proclaim independence onFeb. 17, Sunday ... We shall not recognize Kosovo's independence," Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, deputy director of the 3rd European Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

    Measures must be taken for preventing the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence and the removal of the Kosovo settlement from the legal sphere. Aside from it, it is necessary to prevent a conflict that may break out after the unilateral proclamation of Kosovo's independence, Botsan-Kharchenko said.

    "An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the problem will be held on the initiative of Serbia in the coming days. We actively supported the initiative. It is reasonable and timely, considering the whipping up of tension around the recognition of Kosovo's independence," he said.

    "It is necessary to call the attention again to the violation by Pristina of Resolution No. 1244 of the UN Security Council, of the UN Charter and of all the UN norms." he said.

    Kosovo, a breakaway Serbian province, could unilaterally declare its independence as early as Sunday, and its status is expected to be recognized by Western countries.