URGENT: Russia not getting ready to recognize Kosovo - Lavrov

MOSCOW, February 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed on Friday a claim by Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci that Moscow was getting ready to recognize the province as an independent state.

"I think Mr. Thaci is indulging in wishful thinking ... Mr. Thaci is the last person to make statements on behalf of the Russian Federation," Lavrov told a Moscow news conference following talks with his Serbian counterpart.