Kosovo celebrates its 9th anniversary of independence as US confirms its strong support

Prishtina, Kosovo | Tirana Echo – Kosovo celebrates 9 years of independence today with the new Balkan state counting 113 international recognitions, hoping to become a member of the UN after getting into the IMF and FIFA.

The 9^th anniversary comes as fresh tensions have spurred between Serbia and Kosovo and as uncertainties surrounded President’s Trump continuation of US policy in the Balkans.

However, earlier on Tuesday, US Foreign Secretary Rex Tillerson said that the United States values its strong friendship with Kosovo “based on mutual aspirations for stability, peace and prosperity for all of our citizens. We applaud the progress the people of Kosovo have made in developing democratic, multiethnic institutions,”

Tillerson added that the United States “remains committed to helping Kosovo succeed, and will continue to work with its leaders and people in the pursuit of peace and prosperity”, – calming any uncertainties among Kosovo’s leaders.

Tillerson’s statement was echoed today in a letter of congratulations from US President Trump to Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci who said that the US looks forward to continuing “our broad and deep cooperation, focused on supporting increased democratic and economic development, strengthening rule of law in Kosovo, resolving disputes with neighbors, and countering violent extremism and foreign terrorist fighters.”

Kosovo’s officials and its people marked the country’s Independence Day with the usual state protocol ceremonies of homages paid to former President Ibrahim Rugova in Pristina and to KLA rebel legendary commander Adem Jashari who was killed together with 50 others of his family in the village of Prekaz in 1998 by Yugoslav forces.

The country suffers from widespread corruption and unemployment and hopes to get a visa-free regime, eventually integrating into the European Union and NATO while Serbia, backed by Russia strongly opposes Kosovo’s international recognitions.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17th 2008, marking the de-facto historical end of what was left of the old Yugoslavia. Today the Republic of Kosovo is recognized by 113 UN states and 23 out of 28 EU member states. The new Balkan country would need 130 international recognitions in order to apply for UN membership. It has already been accepted into the IMF, the World Bank and FIFA / UEFA.