By RIA Novosti
New York : Russia will not back a new United Nations Security Council resolution draft on the status of Kosovo proposed by the US and the European Union (EU).
"We do not intend to work with the American-EU text. The amendments are purely cosmetic and give no answers to any of Russia's fundamental concerns," Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, said Thursday.
Asked whether Russia would use its veto right, the diplomat said, "You read my thoughts."
The US and the EU proposed a soft draft resolution on Kosovo at the Security Council in an apparent bid to overcome Russian opposition.
The new draft tones down United Nations envoy Martti Ahtisaari's proposal advocating internationally supervised sovereignty for the province, but toughens demands on the Kosovo leadership, in particular on security concerns.
Russia has consistently opposed international plans to grant independence to Kosovo, and believes the predominantly Albanian region's status should be decided through direct negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade.