http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/30/content_8076967.htm
XINHUA (CHINA) Putin: Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence unfair 2008-04-30 04:39:23 MOSCOW, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Russia's outgoing President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday Russia has not changed its position on the Kosovo situation and still views Kosovo's independence unacceptable. "We think that the unilateral declaration and recognition of independent Kosovo are unfair and illegal. We cannot accept the opinion that independent Kosovo has simply come to exist," Putin told a press conference after talks with Greek Prime Minister Konstandinos Karamanlis. If certain members of the international community "had not supplied weapons to the conflict zone and had not promised them independence, that would not have happened," Putin said. The president also called for the fulfillment of international laws, saying "only in that case small and big states will feel secure." Kosovo, the breakaway province of Serbia, has been under the UN administration since 1999. The ethnic Albanian-dominated Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia on Feb. 17. Belgrade has said the proclamation is null and void.
