Serbia and Russia calm fears of Kosovo reprisals

KOSOVO:Serbia and Russia denounced Kosovo's apparently imminent declaration of independence yesterday, while toning down threats to punish the region or the many countries that are expected to recognise its sovereignty.

"All acts and activities of provisional authorities in Kosovo unilaterally declaring independence will be declared null and void for breaching the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia," the country's government said in a declaration.

"These acts represent the brutal and unilateral secession of part of Serbia's territory and therefore are invalid and void," Belgrade said, adding that it would not recognise the authority of a 2,000-strong EU mission that will oversee Kosovo's independence.

In Russia, President Vladimir Putin said the 90 per cent ethnic Albanian region's "unilateral declaration of independence would be immoral and illegal".

"We already have our responses fully ready and we know what we'll do," he said,allaying fears that Moscow would use Kosovo as a precedent to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two Moscow-backed breakaway regions of Georgia, and the sovereignty of Transdniestr, a pro-Russian, separatist province of Moldova.

"If someone takes an idiotic and illegal decision this doesn't mean we should do the same," Mr Putin said.

Earlier, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov played down talk of a drastic response from Moscow to a move that it says will destabilise Europe.

"Russia does not have among its political instruments any measures for punishing anyone," he said.

While vowing never to recognise Kosovo's sovereignty, Belgrade has called for a calm response to independence - which the region's leaders are likely to declare on Sunday or Monday - and urged Serbs in Kosovo not to pack up and head for Serbia proper.

"Our people in Kosovo should stay in their homes, in their province, in their Serbia," said prime minister Vojislav Kostunica.

"For the Serbian government, every individual in Kosovo is considered an equal and rightful citizen of the state."

Serbia has prepared a secret "action plan" to respond to Kosovo's independence, but officials suggest that it does not foresee measures such as cutting power supplies to the province of two million people or severing diplomatic ties with states that recognise its sovereignty.

Major EU nations like Britain, France and Germany, along with the United States, are expected to be the first to acknowledge the independence of Kosovo, which has been under United Nations control since Nato bombing ended a brutal 1998-1999 Serb crackdown on separatist rebels.

A declaration of independence on Sunday or Monday would allow EU foreign ministers to dispatch the police and justice mission to Kosovo when they meet on Monday.

The powerful head of the EU mission is expected to be experienced Dutch diplomat Peter Feith.