Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr A. Gasimova / Settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict depends on the US's position on the Kosovo status, the chairman of the Federation's Council Committee on CIS Affairs Vadim Gustov said.
The positions of the sides to the Kosovo conflict have not drastically changed. Pristina still insists on complete independence for the region, including full-right membership to the UN and other international organizations, while Belgrade agrees only to the status of wide autonomy.
The Kosovo issue is expected to be considered without taking into consideration Belgrade's position, Gustov said on 20 November during a video-link between Baku and Moscow.
The United States and the European Union want to complete the fruitless negotiations as soon as possible, but Russia supports Belgrade insisting on continuation of talks. " Russia does not want Kosovo to be independent, because that may have very bad consequences," he said.
According to Gustov, Kosovo's independence will first off all affect the Trans-Dniester Region and the Nagorno-Karabakh. "These regions will also strive for independence and that will aggravate the situation. Therefore, Russia considers it best to keep peacekeeping forces in Kosovo," Gustov said.
On 10 December, the UN Security Council is expected to make a final decision on the Kosovo status.
