Russia warns U.N., EU on Kosovo

BRUSSELS, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- The Russian ambassador to the European Union has urged U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to refrain from giving his blessing to an EU mission to Kosovo.

Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov also said that the European Union should not recognize Kosovo as an independent state, the EU Observer reported. Russia is an ally of Serbia, which claims Kosovo.

EU foreign ministers are expected to vote Feb. 18 on a mission that would include 1,800 judges, prosecutors and police officers. The goal is to help Kosovo set up democratic institutions and a legal system.

Chizhov said that Russia does not believe existing U.N. resolutions on Kosovo give the secretary general authority to approve the mission.

"Any attempt to circumvent the U.N. Security Council would put the EU mission on a very shaky legal basis," Chizhov said.