Russia warns as Kosovo independence looms

By Shaban Buza and Douglas Hamilton

PRISTINA/BELGRADE (Reuters) - Kosovo is expected to declare independence from Serbia next Sunday, but a top Russian official warned that Europe could open a "Pandora's box" if it recognized the move over Belgrade's objections.

"It will all be done by Sunday," a senior political source told Reuters, saying Pristina would invite the European Union to send in a planned supervisory mission and NATO to stay on at the head of a peacekeeping force.

The source denied speculation that it would be a two-stage process, with a statement of intent next weekend and an actual declaration in March.

Kosovo hopes for quick recognition from the United States and from the EU, whose foreign ministers meet on Monday February 18, but Russia is dead set against.

"If it comes to a unilateral recognition of Kosovo, that would be a precedent," First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said at a conference in Munich.

"That would definitely be beyond international law, and it would be something close to opening a Pandora's box," he said, meaning it could lead to unpredictable outcomes.

He said Russia would not, however, respond tit-for-tat by immediately recognizing independence bids by two Georgian breakaway provinces it supports.

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