Russia's foreign minister reiterated his country's opposition to a U.S.-backed plan granting independence to the breakaway province of Kosovo, and warned Thursday that imposing the solution is «absolutely unacceptable.» «We are very interested in the stability of the Balkans and Serbia,» Sergei Lavrov said after talks with Serbian President Boris Tadic. «Any solution for Kosovo must be acceptable to both Belgrade and (Kosovo's capital) Pristina,» Lavrov said. «Any unilateral imposing of the solution is absolutely unacceptable.» The stability of the region «can be jeopardized by attempts of unilateral recognition of the independence of Kosovo,» Lavrov said, reacting to suggestions by U.S. officials that they may recognize Kosovo even without consent by the U.N. Security Council, the Associated Press reported. Lavrov's meetings in Belgrade are being held before a crucial session of the Security Council _ expected next month _ which will consider the independence plan prepared by U.N. envoy Martti Ahtisaari. The plan envisages granting internationally supervised independence to Kosovo, which would remain under EU and U.S. supervision.
