Clinton, Lavrov differ over Kosovo

GENEVA, March 6 – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday voiced their different positions over Kosovo.

Speaking to a press conference after their first meeting in the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva, Clinton said she congratulated Kosovo leader over the “first year” of Kosovo independence, while Lavrov warned that Kosovo’s unilateral announcement of independence posed “danger” to stability in the Balkan region. 

Clinton said the United States would continue to support Kosovo in their future efforts.

However, Lavrov said Kosovo’s independence did not conform to relevant U.N. resolution of 1999.

Lavrov said he hoped that the situation in the Balkans could be stabilized, and that Russia is willing to help strengthen the security in the region.

In February last year, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, which has triggered controversy in international politics. Russia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence.

Later last year, Abkhazia and South Ossetia followed suit and proclaimed their sovereignty, which won recognition from Russia.