Russia Warns Iran on Missile Development
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia warned Iran on Wednesday that its development of rockets and continued uranium enrichment was creating the impression Tehran was intentionally ignoring the concerns of the international community.
"We do not approve of Iran's actions in constantly demonstrating its intentions to develop its rocket sector and continue enriching uranium," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
Iran launched a rocket last week it said was designed to carry its first locally made research satellite next year, showing advances in ballistics at a time when Western powers are already wary it may be developing a nuclear weapon.
Russia Has No Plan for Kosovo Sanctions
UN (AFP) - Russia does not plan any punitive measures if Kosovo unilaterally declares independence from Serbia, but is demanding an emergency UN Security Council meeting on the province, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.
"Russia does not have among its political instruments any measures for punishing anyone," Lavrov told a news conference here. But he said Moscow was convinced that "it would be a mistake" for Kosovo to make its declaration of independence, which is widely expected on Sunday.
The U.S. and most EU nations plan to recognise an independent Kosovo but Russia backs Serbia's case that it must retain control of the southern province.
Ukraine Says It Will Not Allow NATO Bases
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Aspiring NATO member Ukraine is prepared to adopt legislation banning the alliance's bases from its soil, RIA Novosti quoted Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko as saying on Wednesday.
"If the Russian side is worried about military bases then Ukraine will never go for that... We are ready to underpin that constitutionally," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned at a meeting with Yushchenko on Tuesday that Moscow could be obliged to aim its missiles at Ukraine.
Ukraine's constitution already bans it from hosting foreign military bases, with the exception of the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol, where Russia leases a base for its Black Sea fleet.
Russian Pays Record Price for Rare Violin
LONDON (Reuters) - A Russian businessman paid a record price on Wednesday for an 18th century violin that had not been played in public for more than 70 years.
Maxim Viktorov, who bought the instrument by master violin maker Guiseppe Guarneri, paid "well in excess" of the previous world auction record for a musical instrument of $3.54 million, auction house Sotheby's said. It said Viktorov bought the violin privately, and did not disclose the price.
