Russian parliament: Kosovo's declaration of independence violates international law

MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The parliament of Russia on Monday condemned Kosovo's declaration of independence, saying it violated international laws, Itar-Tass news agency reported.

The two chambers of the Russian parliament issued a joint statement on Kosovo's declaration of unilateral independence, which is aimed at drawing attention to the negative consequences of the move, Itar-Tass cited State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov as saying.

"The proclamation of Kosovo independence violates one of the chief principles of international law -- the non-violation of territorial integrity of a state," said the joint statement.

Kosovo officially declared independence from Serbia on Sunday at an extraordinary session of parliament, during which Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said the new state would be "proud, independent and free."

The move, supported by the United States and some European Union countries, immediately triggered mixed responses from the international community.

Russia, which strongly opposes the province's independence, said Monday that it will demand the UN mission in Kosovo annul the declaration of the province's independence.

Kosovo was a southern autonomous province within Serbia before the breakup of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Albanian-dominated region was plunged into ethnic conflicts in the1990s.

Kosovo has been under UN administration since mid-1999, after NATO air strikes drove Serbian forces out of the province.