MOSCOW, February 22 (RIA Novosti) - If granted independence, the Serbian province of Kosovo will set a precedent for the recognition of self-proclaimed republics in the former Soviet Union, a vice-speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament said Wednesday.

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who is also the leader of Russia's ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party, said: "If Kosovo is proclaimed an independent state, this will set a precedent for all other unrecognized states [in the former Soviet Union] - Transdnestr, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorny Karabakh - to be given international recognition, as well."

Zhirinovsky said preparations for an international conference on Kosovo were underway and that this forthcoming forum could give sovereignty to the Serbian province.