Whatever is allowed Kosovo, is allowed everyone else too

Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov believes that Kosovo's independence may create a precedent for the settlement of other regional conflicts, in particular those over Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Northern Cyprus.

"I think our partners in the Contact Group understand that Kosovo's sovereignty will be projected onto other conflicts as well. At the same time, attempts have been made to present the Kosovo situation as 'unique', alleging that Kosovo's independence would not create any international legal precedent", said V. Titov. He was commenting on the forthcoming direct talks between Belgrade and Prishtina on Kosovo's political status.

V. Titov has reaffirmed the Russian stance, which is that the status of the Kosovo Province must be of a universal nature.

As he said, "double standards and selectivity in the settlement of crises are unacceptable, as this would lead to undermining the foundations of international right and make any settlement decision unviable".