Rome  - Syrian foreign minister Wallid Moallem on Thursday indicated Syria would not follow its Russian ally's decision to recognize South Ossetia's independence.

"We have not recognized Kosovo," Mo'allem said in Rome, replying to a question on whether Damascus would, given its close ties to Moscow, also recognize the breakaway Georgian region's independence.

Moallem, speaking at a joint news conference with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, was referring to the decision by the European Union, the United States and others to recognize February's unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, a former Serbian province.

Syria has traditionally maintained good relations with Russia - before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union - and relies on Moscow for much of its weapons supplies.

Moscow announced this week it would base nearly 4,000 troops in the province indefinitely after winning a war with Georgia over the territory in mid-August. (dpa)