Russia will not recognise Abkhazia, Ossetia-Ivanov

MUNICH, Germany, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Moscow will not respond to a likely Western recognition of Kosovo's independence by immediately backing an independence bid by two Georgian breakaway provinces, a top Russian official said on Sunday.

"Russia is not going to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia the day after Kosovo's independence has been declared," First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov told a news conference.

Russia opposes granting independence to Serbia's breakaway province over the objections of Belgrade and says it could create a dangerous precedent elsewhere in the world. Russia has urged the West not to recognise Kosovo's independence unilaterally.

Russia itself backs Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia -- a highly contentious issue between the two ex-Soviet states -- but has so far rejected calls by separatist leaders to recognise their independence.

Analysts have suggested Moscow, upset by Georgia's drive to join NATO and the European Union, could recognise the independence of the two regions once the West recognised Kosovo's independence. (Writing by Oleg Shchedrov, Editing by Matthew Jones)