Global General

ICJ ruling not to change Russia's stance on Kosovo

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-23 02:32

MOSCOW - Russia's position on the Kosovo issue remains invariable after the United Nations' International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded that Kosovo's declaration of independence was legal, said the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Our position of not recognizing Kosovo's independence remains invariable. We believe that the Kosovo problem can only be solved through continued talks between the involved parties based on the UN Security Council resolution," Interfax news agency quoted the statement posted on the Foreign Ministry website as saying.

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"We are ready to further actively facilitate this," the statement said.

The ICJ said in a non-binding opinion on Thursday that the 2008 Kosovo independence declaration does not violate the general international law.

Kosovo, an autonomous Serbian province, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia two years ago and remains under United Nations administration.

In October 2008, Serbia demanded that the UN General Assembly ask the ICJ to issue an opinion on the legality of Kosovo's breakaway from Serbia.

Russia has always been strongly opposed to Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence.