Russia warns EU on Kosovo force

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russia warned the United Nations and European Union Tuesday against taking any unilateral steps with Kosovo, saying such action would create a "destructive precedent."

EU leaders agreed last month to send an 1,800-strong force of police and legal officials to Kosovo to maintain stability after a declaration of independence, which is expected in the next few months.

"We are hoping that the U.N. secretary-general and our partners realize the destructive implications of unilateral scenarios and actions violating the U.N. Charter and will refrain from taking steps that can create a destructive precedent for international relations," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said in a written statement.

"We understand that the European Union wants to play a more active role in the Kosovo issue, but it is only possible if these conditions are fulfilled," he said.

Kamynin said any new international civilian presence in Kosovo would require approval from the U.N. Security Council, where Russia has a permanent seat.

Since 1999, the United Nations has been running the Serbian province with NATO peacekeepers, who still number about 16,000.

An EU official, however, denied Russian claims that the EU force would violate existing U.N. resolutions.

The official, who did not wish to be named, said the resolutions allowed for an international presence in the province, not necessarily from the U.N.

He also insisted that most governments around the world "agree that Kosovo is an EU responsibility."

Kosovo's push for independence has been a major factor in the Serbian presidential race. Ultranationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic faces pro-Western incumbent Boris Tadic in a runoff Sunday. The outcome of the election could determine whether Serbia forges closer ties with the West or drifts further toward Russia.

Both Tadic, who was elected in 2004, and Nikolic oppose independence for Kosovo. But Tadic has pushed for Serbia to join the EU, while Nikolic supports closer ties with a resurgent Russia, the Serbs' historical ally.

Monday, the EU offered Serbia a package of measures including closer political ties, a free trade agreement, visa liberalization, and cooperation in education as part of a deal to put it on the path toward EU membership.

"Serbia's future lies in the European Union," said Dimitrij Rupel, the foreign minister of Slovenia, which holds the rotating EU presidency. "Serbia's drawing closer to the EU is thus crucial."

The EU said it hopes Serbia will sign the agreement Feb. 7 regardless of the outcome of the election.

According to the EU official, the Kosovo security force will include between 1,300 and 1,400 police backed by prosecutors, judges, judicial personnel and customs officials.

Half of the police deployment will be made up of special forces trained in crowd and riot control, the official added.

The force, which is entirely separate from the U.N force, will be phased in over a 120-day period to replace the existing U.N. police units as soon as independence is declared, he added. E-mail to a friend

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