http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080402/ap_on_re_eu/russia_kosovo_2
Minister: Russia to block Kosovo UN bid 2 hours, 29 minutes ago Russia's foreign minister said Wednesday that Moscow will not allow newly independent Kosovo to become a member of the United Nations. Sergey Lavrov told the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, that Moscow would use its power as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to block Kosovo from joining the world body. Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in February and it has been recognized by the United States and many European nations. Russia, a historic ally of Serbia, has sharply criticized the West and suggested it could recognize separatist regions in some ex-Soviet republics. "I am concerned that the developing situation in Kosovo is not over," Lavrov told lawmakers. "The minorities in Kosovo have the right to express their will and the right to decide whom to live with. Making Serbs submit to recognizing the legitimacy of the European Union mission is illegitimate." Russia said Tuesday it will send more than 140 tons of humanitarian aid for Kosovo Serbs over the next 10 days. The first shipment including some 40 tons of canned food, baby food, rice and sugar was expected to arrive to Belgrade on Wednesday.
