Russia wants Kosovo talks beyond Dec. 10

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in Slovenia Wednesday for an official visit. The position that there is no alternative to Kosovo's independence is "non-productive", the Russian chief of diplomacy said in Ljubljana. Russia wants Kosovo talks beyond Dec. 10 "We should not impose on the two sides the thesis that there are no alternatives in the issue of Kosovo," Lavrov said after meeting Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel. Serbia and the majority Kosovo Albanians are nearing the scheduled December 10 end of the talks on Kosovo's future status. Belgrade adamantly insists on sovereignty over the province, while the Albanians want independence quickly and have been increasingly loudly threatening to unilaterally proclaim it after the deadline, DPA reported. The United States has been supportive of the Albanians, and Russia of Belgrade, while the European Union, which is due to become involved in Kosovo instead of the current UN mission, "remains divided", according to the agency. Affirming the Russian position, Lavrov warned that a unilateral recognition of Kosovo's independence could trigger a domino-effect. "We are concerned that such scenarios could occur elsewhere in Europe and create difficulties most of all in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia," he said. "We in Russia want the dialogue to carry on," he added. Kosovo's Albanians, however, backed by the U.S., want a decision and no more talks after December 10. Lavrov, Rupel meet in Ljubljana (Beta)

Russia wants Kosovo talks beyond Dec. 10

"We should not impose on the two sides the thesis that there are no alternatives in the issue of Kosovo," Lavrov said after meeting Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel.

Serbia and the majority Kosovo Albanians are nearing the scheduled December 10 end of the talks on Kosovo's future status.

Belgrade adamantly insists on sovereignty over the province, while the Albanians want independence quickly and have been increasingly loudly threatening to unilaterally proclaim it after the deadline, DPA reported.

The United States has been supportive of the Albanians, and Russia of Belgrade, while the European Union, which is due to become involved in Kosovo instead of the current UN mission, "remains divided", according to the agency.

Affirming the Russian position, Lavrov warned that a unilateral recognition of Kosovo's independence could trigger a domino-effect.

"We are concerned that such scenarios could occur elsewhere in Europe and create difficulties most of all in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia," he said.

"We in Russia want the dialogue to carry on," he added.

Kosovo's Albanians, however, backed by the U.S., want a decision and no more talks after December 10.