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Russia pledges support to Serbia Russia pledges support to Serbia
(40 minutes later)
The man tipped to become the next Russian president has vowed his country will "stick to" its support for Serbia in opposing Kosovo's independence.The man tipped to become the next Russian president has vowed his country will "stick to" its support for Serbia in opposing Kosovo's independence.
Deputy PM Dmitry Medvedev was in Belgrade for talks with Serb President Boris Tadic and PM Vojislav Kostunica.Deputy PM Dmitry Medvedev was in Belgrade for talks with Serb President Boris Tadic and PM Vojislav Kostunica.
The Russian foreign ministry has accused the United States of "flagrant cynicism" in recognising Kosovo's declaration of independence a week ago. Although its focus is mainly economic, the visit is seen as a sign of support for Serbia's view on Kosovo, the BBC's Bethany Bell in Belgrade says.
The issue sparked protests in Belgrade last week. Kosovo's declaration of independence sparked protests in Serbia last week.
"We proceed from the assumption that Serbia is a united country, whose jurisdiction covers the whole of its territory, and we shall stick to this principled stand," Mr Medvedev said during his meeting with Mr Kostunica, Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAY Both Serbia and Russia should tone down their aggressive rhetoricMat, Ljubljana, Slovenia class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4339">Send us your comments"We proceed from the assumption that Serbia is a united country, whose jurisdiction covers the whole of its territory, and we shall stick to this principled stand," Mr Medvedev said during his meeting with Mr Kostunica, Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported.
Mr Medvedev's comments, and the timing of his visit, will be seen as evidence that Russia's foreign policy is unlikely to change once serving President Vladimir Putin steps down.Mr Medvedev's comments, and the timing of his visit, will be seen as evidence that Russia's foreign policy is unlikely to change once serving President Vladimir Putin steps down.
See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdownSee a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown
Mr Putin's term in office has seen a marked deterioration in relations with the West, most recently over the issues of Kosovo and Nato's ambitions in former eastern bloc states like Poland and the Czech Republic.Mr Putin's term in office has seen a marked deterioration in relations with the West, most recently over the issues of Kosovo and Nato's ambitions in former eastern bloc states like Poland and the Czech Republic.
'Flagrant cynicism''Flagrant cynicism'
Mr Medvedev, who is the favourite to take over from Mr Putin after next Sunday's presidential election in Russia, is being accompanied by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Mr Medvedev is the favourite to take over from Mr Putin after next Sunday's presidential election in Russia.
According to Itar-Tass, he said Kosovo's declaration of independence was "absolutely at variance with international law".
He said he and Mr Kostunica had "made a deal to coordinate together our efforts in order to get out of this complicated situation".
Serbs have turned against those who recognise the new Kosovo Poll: Russia causes concernsRussia weighs optionsSerbs have turned against those who recognise the new Kosovo Poll: Russia causes concernsRussia weighs options
A deal between Russian gas giant Gazprom and Serbian state enterprise Serbiagas on a planned gas pipeline in Serbia was signed during the visit, Russian news agency Interfax reported.A deal between Russian gas giant Gazprom and Serbian state enterprise Serbiagas on a planned gas pipeline in Serbia was signed during the visit, Russian news agency Interfax reported.
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Belgrade says Russia has emerged as Serbia's strongest ally in the country's opposition to Kosovo's independence. Our correspondent says Russia has emerged as Serbia's strongest ally in the country's opposition to Kosovo's independence.
Russia's foreign ministry asked in a statement on Sunday: "Do support for the Kosovo Albanian side alone, contempt for law for the sake of so-called 'political expediency' and indifference to the fate of 100,000 Serbs who... are effectively being driven into a ghetto, not amount to flagrant cynicism?" On Sunday the Russian foreign ministry accused the United States of "flagrant cynicism" in recognising Kosovo's declaration of independence a week ago.
The statement followed a comment by US Assistant Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, who accused Russia of aggravating tensions over the Kosovo issue.The statement followed a comment by US Assistant Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, who accused Russia of aggravating tensions over the Kosovo issue.
Correspondents say that the high-powered nature of Russia's delegation is a sign of the strength of the country's backing for Serbia. The US and most European countries have supported Kosovo's declaration of independence.
Border posts rowBorder posts row
Belgrade government ministers have arrived in Kosovo, where they were scheduled to visit Serbian communities to press their message that Belgrade still regards Kosovo as its own. Also on Monday, Belgrade government ministers arrived in Kosovo, where they were scheduled to visit Serbian communities to press their message that Belgrade still regards Kosovo as its own.
The root of violence is the violation of international law Slobodan Samardzic,Serbian Minister for Kosovo Euroblog: Fired up by KosovoProfile: Dimitry Medvedev The root of violence is the violation of international law Slobodan Samardzic,Serbian Minister for Kosovo Euroblog: Fired up by KosovoProfile: Dimitry Medvedev Serbian Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic is leading the delegation.
Serbian Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic is leading the delegation.
There had been suggestions that Mr Samardzic might be denied entry until he apologised for comments seemingly condoning violence.There had been suggestions that Mr Samardzic might be denied entry until he apologised for comments seemingly condoning violence.
Mr Samardzic described the burning down of two border posts on 19 February by crowds of Kosovan Serbs as "legitimate" acts.Mr Samardzic described the burning down of two border posts on 19 February by crowds of Kosovan Serbs as "legitimate" acts.
Two days later, Western embassies were attacked in Belgrade, acts Mr Samardzic blamed on the US for accepting Kosovo's declaration of independence on 17 February.Two days later, Western embassies were attacked in Belgrade, acts Mr Samardzic blamed on the US for accepting Kosovo's declaration of independence on 17 February.
"The US is the major culprit for all troubles since 17 February," Mr Samardzic told the state news agency Tanjug."The US is the major culprit for all troubles since 17 February," Mr Samardzic told the state news agency Tanjug.
"The root of violence is the violation of international law.""The root of violence is the violation of international law."
Mitrovica fears
Kosovo remained calm on Sunday, and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci marked the first week of independence with a visit to the grave of Kosovo's late president, Ibrahim Rugova. Mr Thaci used the occasion to call on Kosovo's Serbian minority to integrate.
But the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica was bracing itself for more tension.
Albanian staff have been prevented from returning to work at the town's UN-administered court on safety grounds, while Serbs who used to work there are demanding their old jobs back.
Any attempt by the Serbs to use force to occupy the building would be a test of UN resolve to maintain at least a semblance of multi-ethnic administration in the troubled northern town, says our correspondent.
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