MOSCOW, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Russia remains adamant that the United Nations Security Council should not support unilateral independence for Kosovo.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovenko said even though the U.N. Security Council appears ready to help move the issue forward, his ministry believes Kosovo's future can still be resolved through ongoing talks between Serbs and ethnic Albanians, RIA Novosti reported Saturday.
"We are convinced that a negotiated settlement of the Kosovo problem is still possible," Yakovenko said.
The Russian minister has repeatedly voiced his opposition to Kosovo's independence.
Kosovo has been a U.N. protectorate since 1999 when hostilities ended, but negotiations between the Serbian government and Kosovo's Albanian population have remained stalled regarding the province's separation from Serbia.
RIA Novosti reported that if the Security Council does rule on the matter Jan. 16, Russia has vowed to veto any ruling in favor of Kosovo's independence.
