Russia will not change stance on Kosovo - source

MOSCOW, June 10 (Reuters) Russia will not change its opposition to Kosovo gaining independence despite President George W Bush's wish to settle the province's future soon, a senior Russian official source told Reuters today.

Bush said during a visit to Albania that the United Nations should grant independence quickly to the breakaway Serbian province and would not let Russia block the idea indefinitely.

Asked about Bush's comments, a top Russian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: ''The Russian position remains unchanged.'' Russian President Vladimir Putin met Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica to discuss Kosovo on Saturday on the margins of an economic forum in St Petersburg.

''The Russian president specifically asked him whether the Serbs still stood by their position (of opposition to Kosovo independence) and, after hearing a positive reply, said that Russia's position will not change either,'' the official said.

Russia's firm position on Kosovo is motivated partly by a desire to support its historic ally Serbia and partly by a wish to flex its muscles against the West on the world stage, diplomats say.

Moscow's consistently firm response has led most observers here to conclude that if a Western-sponsored plan to grant Kosovo supervised independence is formally tabled at the United Nations Security Council, Russia will use its veto to block it.

REUTERS SLD BST2002