(HELSINKI) - Cyprus will not recognise a unilateral declaration of independence by ethnic Albanian-dominated Kosovo, Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis said here Thursday.

"Cyprus, for reasons of principle, cannot recognize and will not recognise a unilateral declaration of independence," she told reporters.

"This is an issue of principle, of respect of international law, but also an issue of concern that it will create a precedent in international relations."

Kozakou-Marcoullis said at the end of a visit to Finland, "There's really no way that we can change our position ... We don't feel alone on this issue."

But she added: "It has nothing to do with the occupied Cyprus, it's not because we're afraid that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would declare independence because they already did it in 1983 and got a very strong reaction from the (UN) Security Council."

"We have expressed this position with full respect for the position of our partners, as a sovereign member state of the EU," she said.

About 20 EU countries are prepared to recognise the independence of the UN-administered breakaway Serbian province under international surveillance, and without a green light by the UN Security Council.

Cyprus which has been divided into an ethnic Greek and ethnic Turkish part since 1974 as well as Greece, Romania and Slovakia oppose unilateral independence for fear it could fan separatism in their own countries.

"We have made our position very clear from the very beginning. I really feel that our position is very well respected by our partners in EU," said the Cypriot minister.

Outside the EU, Russia backs Serbia in opposing unilateral independence, insisting that Belgrade must agree first.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said Wednesday the province's leaders would make a unilateral declaration of independence within days of Serbia's runoff presidential election this weekend, regardless of who wins.

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