Moscow will not respond to a likely Western recognition of Kosovo`s independence by immediately backing an independence bid by two Georgian breakaway provinces, a top Russian official said on Sunday.
"Russia is not going to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia the day after Kosovo`s independence has been declared," First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov told a news conference.
Russia opposes granting independence to Serbia`s breakaway province over the objections of Belgrade and says it could create a dangerous precedent elsewhere in the world. Russia has urged the West not to recognise Kosovo`s independence unilaterally.
Russia itself backs Georgia`s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia -- a highly contentious issue between the two ex-Soviet states -- but has so far rejected calls by separatist leaders to recognise their independence.
Russian News
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