MOSCOW, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the supports for Kosovo's unilateral declaration are "immoral" and "illegal."

    "Europe has double standards on territory issues and small states do not feel safe in the world arena," he said at his annual and maybe the last press conference before he steps down after the March 2 presidential election.

    Putin asked concerned sides to abide by United Nations resolutions and urged the European Union not to take double-standard on the issue.

    The marathon conference in Kremlin is attended by nearly 1,400 domestic and foreign journalists and expected to last for three hours.

    Russia has strongly opposed the unilateral proclamation of independence by Kosovo, a breakaway Serbian province by a majority of ethnic Albanians.

    Kosovo, which has been run by the UN mission since 1999, was expected to unilaterally declare independence after multiple rounds of direct talks failed to resolve its future status before the Dec. 10 deadline set by Europe and the United States.

Lavrov: Russia not to punish EU for recognizing Kosovo

    BRDO, Slovenia, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here on Wednesday that Russia was not planning to take any punitive measures against the European Union if the 27-nation bloc recognized a unilateral declaration of independence for Kosovo.

    "As for whether Russia intends to introduce any repressive actions with regard to the European Union, that sounds a bit wild,of course," he told a press conference after talks with EU officials.  Full story

Russian FM: UN Security Council to meet on Kosovo on Thursday

    BRDO, Slovenia, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that U.N. Security Council members would meet to discuss the status of Kosovo on Thursday.

    Everything should be done to "prevent negative effects," Lavrov told a press conference here when asked how Russia would respond to Kosovo's independence.  Full story

EU to discuss Kosovo with Russia

    BRDO, Slovenia, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Top officials of the European Union (EU) meet here on Wednesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss Kosovo and bilateral issues.

    Kosovo will be on top of the agenda as the EU intends to deploy soon a civilian mission of 1,800 to the Serbian breakaway province. Russia and Serbia strongly oppose independence for Kosovo and the deployment of EU missions there.  Full story

Russian FM warns of danger of Kosovo independence

    GENEVA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned here on Tuesday that a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo would violate international law and damage security in Europe.

    "It would undermine the basics of security in Europe, and it would undermine the basics of the United Nations charter," Lavrov told a press conference in Geneva.  Full story

Kosovo to proclaim independence on Feb. 17

    BELGRADE, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Kosovo parliament will adopt a statement of intent to proclaim independence on Feb. 17, just ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, and the proclamation will take effect in early March, local media reported on Saturday.

    The allegations were confirmed at the European Union headquarters, the Serbian national news agency Tanjug reported, citing reports of Radio Television Kosovo (RTK).  Full story