world to back Palestine independence

There is no doubt that if Palestine unilaterally declared independence many nations would recognize it, says Russia's Foreign Minister.

Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Kosovo's Western-backed declaration of independence from Serbia one week ago could spur Palestinians into following suit.

"At present there are already some Palestinian politicians who say it is futile to follow up negotiations with Israel and that these negotiations will not yield anything," Lavrov said on the Vesti 24 television channel.

"And voices are starting to be heard saying that after the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo we would proceed in the same way with a Palestinian state," he added.

Kosovo's Albanian-majority parliament unilaterally declared independence from Serbia on February 17.

The move was backed by the US and EU but was condemned by Russia.