Main news of February 24

RUSSIA

* Russia will never use force to solve the problem of Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia, Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's envoy to NATO said

* Russia's Foreign Ministry slammed as cynical the U.S. position on Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia.

* A Russian ship arrested by North Korean coast guards on Saturday morning is accused of violating the North Korean border, Valery Valkovich, Russia's general consul in Chongjin, said over the phone

WORLD

* Iran will act appropriately, if the UN Security Council passes a new sanctions resolution against the Islamic Republic, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said

* Greek Cypriots went to the polls in a presidential election runoff seen as vital for future negotiations with the breakaway, self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

* President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez cancelled his visits to Russia, Belarus and China, scheduled for late February, over a possible release of hostages with his mediation in Colombia

* Belarus opposition leader Alexander Kozulin who is serving a prison term started a hunger strike to receive permission to attend his wife's funeral