BERLIN, July 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's foreign minister said Friday the country's opposition to Kosovo independence without the consent of Serbia is based on respect for international law, not on Moscow's own interests.
"What we are defending is not our own position - we are defending international law. International law and the UN Charter do not allow the sovereignty of one state to be violated," Sergei Lavrov told reporters, when asked to comment on the United States' unequivocal backing for Kosovo's independence.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said ahead of Thursday's Middle East Quartet meeting in Lisbon: "We are committed to an independent Kosovo and we will get there one way or another."
