Anniversary of Kosovo's UDI

Three years ago Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence. On the third anniversary of the proclamation, Kosovo has no stable institutions and is awaiting a new assembly and government to be formed in Pristina. Anniversary of Kosovo's UDI Hashim Thaci is expected to once again be elected as prime minister, while Behgjet Pacolli will likely be appointed as Kosovo's president. Ahead of the anniversary, Thaci told the media that the "first three years of Kosovo's independence were dedicated to strengthening and consolidating the state for greater wellbeing of its citizens and a realistic start of economic development". From now on, Thaci explained, "we will work for a Euro-Atlantic Kosovo". Some officials of Serb parties that took part in the December elections will also participate in Thaci's government. One of them is Slobodan Petrovic, who heads the Serb Liberal Party, and expects to be named Thaci's deputy. He said his party managed to achieve a lot for the Serb community. "A confirmation of that is that we have received acknowledgment from Serbs by winning most votes of Serbs in local and parliamentary elections, proving in this way that we had visible results," he was quoted as saying. As for the return of those Kosovo Serbs driven out of their homes - something that his party was tasked with in the previous government - Petrovic said there were "also successes, but more could have been done". He explained that "more has been done on the conditions for return", with structures and infrastructure successfully built, but that the number of people actually returning was "not on the expected level". Petrovic described this as another challenge to "give more to the implementation of this project in the government's new mandate". While addressing the UN Security Council in New York on Wednesday, a Kosovo government representative mentioned the Serb representative's participation in its institutions as a sign that the situation in Kosovo had improved. Meanwhile, Radmila Trajkovic, who will also sit in the new assembly in Priostina, said the past three years saw "a failed attempt to create a state in Kosovo". She said Kosovo was "a long way away from the civilizational progress that includes inter-ethnic dialogue, regional cooperation, building of institutions that will be on the path of getting closer to the standards in place in the EU". "Considering that the (ethnic) Albanian leadership has shown a continuity of lacking moral and formal credibility, I think they are on the right path to compromise the creation and space for what they call an independent state," said Trajkovic. "All in all, this moment clearly shows that this has been an unsuccessful attempt to create a Kosovo state in this area," she concluded. Both Petrovic and Trajkovic were elected running on tickets of parties based in Serb enclaves south of the Ibar River. In the north, predominantly inhabited by Serbs, the December elections were ignored, as is the authority of the government in Pristina and today's events to mark the anniversary of the UDI. Those employed in Kosovo's institutions today have a day off, while in the institutions in the north under Belgrade's control this is not the case. Kosovo's Albanians made the declaration on February 17, 2008, and based in on a plan of "supervised independence" drawn up by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari. However, the Ahtisaari document was never approved by the UN, and was rejected by the government in Belgrade. In the past three years, Kosovo has received recognitions from 75 out of the UN's 192 members, but due to Belgrade's opposition - backed by Moscow - the territory has not been able to join the world organization. Five out of EU's 27 members have also decided not to recognize Kosovo as independent, while Serbia's position was reiterated by FM Vuk Jeremic who on Wednesday told the UN Security Council that the declaration was "null and void" and that it would "never be recognized, neither explicitly nor implicitly". Belgrade and Pristina are, however, expected to soon start a dialogue "on all open issues". Slobodan Petrovic (Beta)

Anniversary of Kosovo's UDI

Hashim Thaci is expected to once again be elected as prime minister, while Behgjet Pacolli will likely be appointed as Kosovo's president.

Ahead of the anniversary, Thaci told the media that the "first three years of Kosovo's independence were dedicated to strengthening and consolidating the state for greater wellbeing of its citizens and a realistic start of economic development".

From now on, Thaci explained, "we will work for a Euro-Atlantic Kosovo".

Some officials of Serb parties that took part in the December elections will also participate in Thaci's government.

One of them is Slobodan Petrović, who heads the Serb Liberal Party, and expects to be named Thaci's deputy.

He said his party managed to achieve a lot for the Serb community.

"A confirmation of that is that we have received acknowledgment from Serbs by winning most votes of Serbs in local and parliamentary elections, proving in this way that we had visible results," he was quoted as saying.

As for the return of those Kosovo Serbs driven out of their homes - something that his party was tasked with in the previous government - Petrović said there were "also successes, but more could have been done".

He explained that "more has been done on the conditions for return", with structures and infrastructure successfully built, but that the number of people actually returning was "not on the expected level".

Petrović described this as another challenge to "give more to the implementation of this project in the government's new mandate".

While addressing the UN Security Council in New York on Wednesday, a Kosovo government representative mentioned the Serb representative's participation in its institutions as a sign that the situation in Kosovo had improved.

Meanwhile, Radmila Trajković, who will also sit in the new assembly in Prioština, said the past three years saw "a failed attempt to create a state in Kosovo".

She said Kosovo was "a long way away from the civilizational progress that includes inter-ethnic dialogue, regional cooperation, building of institutions that will be on the path of getting closer to the standards in place in the EU".

"Considering that the (ethnic) Albanian leadership has shown a continuity of lacking moral and formal credibility, I think they are on the right path to compromise the creation and space for what they call an independent state," said Trajković.

"All in all, this moment clearly shows that this has been an unsuccessful attempt to create a Kosovo state in this area," she concluded.

Both Petrović and Trajković were elected running on tickets of parties based in Serb enclaves south of the Ibar River. In the north, predominantly inhabited by Serbs, the December elections were ignored, as is the authority of the government in Priština and today's events to mark the anniversary of the UDI.

Those employed in Kosovo's institutions today have a day off, while in the institutions in the north under Belgrade's control this is not the case.

Kosovo's Albanians made the declaration on February 17, 2008, and based in on a plan of "supervised independence" drawn up by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari. However, the Ahtisaari document was never approved by the UN, and was rejected by the government in Belgrade.

In the past three years, Kosovo has received recognitions from 75 out of the UN's 192 members, but due to Belgrade's opposition - backed by Moscow - the territory has not been able to join the world organization.

Five out of EU's 27 members have also decided not to recognize Kosovo as independent, while Serbia's position was reiterated by FM Vuk Jeremić who on Wednesday told the UN Security Council that the declaration was "null and void" and that it would "never be recognized, neither explicitly nor implicitly".

Belgrade and Priština are, however, expected to soon start a dialogue "on all open issues".