Only UN can decide Kosovo's future: Russia

Moscow, July 22 (UNI) Only a resolution by the UN Security Council could determine the legitimate status of Kosovo, Russia has declared.

''The final decision on Kosovo status must be adopted by the UN Security Council on the basis of agreements between Serbia and Kosovo,''Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The suspension of work in the UN Security Council on Kosovo status did not mean that the issue had been withdrawn from its agenda forever, it said, noting, ''Only a resolution on Kosovo adopted by the UN could be considered legitimate.'' The latest draft resolution on Kosovo's future was withdrawn from the Security Council's consideration last Friday over Russia's opposition to proposed independence for the Albanian-dominated Serbian province.

The co-sponsors of the resolution now plan to continue talks in the Contact Group on Kosovo, within which Britain, France, Italy, Germany, the United States and Russia would gather in Vienna on July 25.

Russian ambassador at the UN, Vitaly Churkin told RIA Novosti news agency that Russia would participate in the Contract Group deliberations ''very actively and very prominently.'' ''If the parties reach a compromise, the issue of Kosovo's status may come back to the Security Council,'' Mr Churkin said.

When asked about Russia's leverage in the Contract Group, with no veto power, and its influence on the discussion scheduled in Vienna, he said, ''You will see what will happen.'' UNI