Russia accuses West of deciding on Kosovo behind Russia's back

Russia accuses West of deciding on Kosovo behind Russia's back
AFX International Focus - June 13, 2007, Wednesday 4:04 PM GMT

MOSCOW (Thomson Financial) - Western powers appear to be working behind Russia's back on recognising independence for Kosovo, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement today.

Complaining that Russia had not been invited yesterday to a meeting in Paris of Western powers on Kosovo, ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said: 'Secret discussions rather suggest a preparation of unilateral scenarios for Kosovo independence.'

'Russia was not invited to the meeting. This fact in no way matches partners' declarations on readiness to continue a search for compromise solutions,' he said.

Representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the United States renewed backing at their Paris meeting yesterday for a UN plan that would give de facto independence to the Serbian province.

Serbia refuses to give up control of the majority ethnic-Albanian province and has the support of its traditional ally, Russia.