Russia slams US 'cynicism' over Kosovo

Moscow accused Washington of seeking to humiliate Serbia over Kosovo ahead of a visit today to Belgrade by Russian Deputy Prime Minister and presidential hopeful Dmitri Medvedev.
Russia, which has been Belgrade's staunchest ally in opposing Kosovo's declaration of independence a week ago, said Sunday that US backing for the breakaway region was an act of "flagrant cynicism".
"Is it not cynical to openly humiliate the Serbian people and tie Belgrade's Euro-Atlantic prospects to their agreeing to Serbia's dismemberment?" the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The statement followed a comment by US Assistant Secretary of State Nicholas Burns that Russia was only aggravating tensions over the Kosovo issue.
Medvedev is due to arrive in the Serbian capital on Monday together with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. They are scheduled to hold talks with Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica.
They will be the first international leaders to visit since a mass rally in Belgrade on Thursday against Kosovo independence turned violent, with protestors setting fire to a section of the US embassy and attacking several other foreign missions.