Russia's symbolic Kosovo aid arrives

The first supply of Russian aid for Serbs in Kosovo arrived in Belgrade today in a gesture of Moscow’s support for Serbia in the dispute with the West over Kosovo.

“This is a big day for us,” Serbia’s government minister for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic, said..

“This is huge help, it presents both material and moral support,” he said.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pledged that Moscow would not allow Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in February with Western backing, to become member of the United Nations.

Mr Lavrov expressed support for the Kosovo Serbs’ rejection of Kosovo’s independence declaration, saying they “have the right to decide whom to live with.”

The Russian aid was sent in an Ilyushin cargo plane. It included 40 tons of canned food, baby food, rice and sugar. Mr Samardzic said three more shipments including more food and medical aid were expected by April 10.

“This is important help for the survival of Serbs in Kosovo,” he said.

No details have been given about how the aid would be distributed among the 100,000 or so Serbs living in Kosovo.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the aid at Serbia’s request. He said the aid should be distributed “without political colouring.”

But Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian leaders objected that Moscow should co-ordinate shipments with Pristina rather than Belgrade.

Kosovo’s declaration of independence in February was quickly recognised by Western countries.

But Serbia and Russia have rejected Kosovo’s statehood as illegal under international law. Belgrade has sought in the past weeks to retain control over Serb-held areas in Kosovo, a move that could lead to a de facto division of the territory.

Clashes last month between Serbs and international police and Nato peacekeepers in Kosovo left a Ukrainian policeman dead and dozens of people on both sides injured.