GENEVA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday voiced their different positions over Kosovo.

Speaking to a press conference after their first meeting in the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva, Clinton said she congratulated Kosovo leader over the "first year" of Kosovo independence, while Lavrov warned that Kosovo's unilateral announcement of independence posed "danger" to stability in the Balkan region.

Clinton said the United States would continue to support Kosovo in their future efforts.

However, Lavrov said Kosovo's independence did not conform to relevant U.N. resolution of 1999.

Lavrov said he hoped that the situation in the Balkans could be stabilized, and that Russia is willing to help strengthen the security in the region.

In February last year, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, which has triggered controversy in international politics. Russia does not recognize Kosovo's independence.

Later last year, Abkhazia and South Ossetia followed suit and proclaimed their sovereignty, which won recognition from Russia.

Don't believe...

This issue is a barter for western recognition of Abhazia and Osetia...As soon it happens - Russia will recogniza Kosovo, I'm afraid

Russia does not need Clinton to recognize anything. Recognition of Abkhazia is irrelevant. It is a Russian protectorate, period. Clinton cannot recognize it, because she would lose face, and influence over U.S. satellite Georgia. Clinton needs Georgia to stir up trouble in the area.

I suppose that Putin must know that he would lose face if he recognized Kosovo.

Ofcourse, all that is true..
But it's a matter of time. When some time is gone and these issues become less sharp for actual time ( along with loosing face becomes less notable) , all that recognitions will be done, I think.

If nothing changes in conflicts' countries-participants' status