Russia warns of Kosovo repercussions

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday internationalrecognition of Kosovo would influence its policy towards theGeorgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, butit did not say if it would recognise them.

Kosovo is expected to unilaterally declare independencefrom Serbia on Sunday and then be recognised by the UnitedStates and most members of the European Union. Russia backs itsally Serbia in opposing the move.

Russian officials have linked Kosovo's status to Georgia'sseparatist regions, saying any recognition of the Serbianprovince as an independent state would create a legal precedentthat would be followed by others.

"We will, without doubt, have to take into account adeclaration and recognition of Kosovo independence inconnection with the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia,"Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.

The statement, posted on the ministry's Internet sitewww.mid.ru, made no mention of whether Russia would grantrecognition to the two regions.

Earlier, Interfax news agency quoted the foreign ministryas saying Russia would change its policy on the breakawayregions if Kosovo was recognised. It later amended its report,removing the reference to a change in policy.

The statement on the Internet site said Russian ForeignMinister Sergei Lavrov had talks on Friday with Abkhazia'sseparatist leader Sergei Bagapsh and Eduard Kokoity, presidentof South Ossetia's separatist administration.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke away from ex-SovietGeorgia in fighting in the 1990s. Some observers have saidRussia might grant them recognition in response to Westernstates recognising Kosovo.

Russia already provides financial aid to both regions andthe majority of residents hold Russian passports. Moscow haspeacekeeping troops in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russia has stopped short of granting the regionsrecognition because, analysts say, it fears that couldencourage its own separatists.

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday described recognitionfor Kosovo as "immoral and illegal" and said he had a plan onhow to respond if Western states back Kosovo's independence.

He did not disclose any details of the plan but he saidRussia would not "ape" the Western recognition of Kosovo, asignal that Russia's response would not involve Moscowrecognising Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

(Writing by Christian Lowe; editing by Elizabeth Piper)