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ITAR-TASS (RUSSIAN FEDERATION) Lavrov warns about danger of support for ethnic separatism 18.03.2008, 05.45 MOSCOW, March 18 (Itar-Tass) - The countries, which recognised the independence of Kosovo and which encourage separatist trends in other regions, must be aware of the explosive nature of such processes and of their responsibility for their possible unpredictable consequences, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov has pointed out. In an interview published in Rossiiskaya Gazeta on Tuesday, Lavrov said the Kosovo "precedent has already echoed in many areas. There are grounds to believe that all that happens not by chance." "Undoubtedly, the most flagrant breach of international law has been committed. It is not fortuitous that many (countries), including Islamic states, do not intend to recognise Kosovo independence. I would like to warn against temptation to yield to calls that come from non-Arab and non-Islamic countries but addressed precisely to Islamic ones, to show Islamic solidarity and recognise Kosovo. The situation in Kosovo is the most vivid example of ethnic separatism," the Minister emphasized. Lavrov is convinced that "It is possible to fight this only through legal methods while explaining the entire duplicity of this situation, its entire danger for international relations with unpredictable consequences." The Minister pointed out, "Attempts are being continued in Kosovo to force people to live in a state established unlawfully". "Unrest has begun to show in other regions of the world as well. You see what is happening in China's autonomous district of Tibet and how separatists are acting there," the Minister remarked, "Ethnic Albanians in Macedonia, too, are already demanding such a degree of autonomy that is an obvious step on the road to independence. Developments in other parts of the world also make it possible to suppose that we are witnessing only the beginning of an utterly explosive process". "All those who follow this road must not demand a display of either Islamic or Euro-Atlantic solidarity. They must still be aware of their responsibility. The larger the country and the more serious it is, the greater the responsibility it bears," Lavrov stressed. The Russian Foreign Minister is convinced that "The function of explaining that responsibility is, perhaps, the most important one now". "We are doing our best to make such efforts," the Minister said. "It is immoral, I believe, to encourage separatist trends," Lavrov pointed out. _
