NICOLE ITANO
PRISTINA, Kosovo | To the beat of drums and blasts of fireworks, jubilant ethnic Albanians in the Serbian province of Kosovo declared themselves the world’s newest nation Sunday.
But the declaration of independence, which is backed by the United States and other Western powers, is likely to trigger an international diplomatic crisis over whether to recognize the new state.
“Now, all together, we are creating history,” declared Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, before presenting the declaration to Kosovo’s assembly for approval. “We are becoming an equal in the democratic world.”
Despite conciliatory words from Kosovo’s Albanian leaders, who promised to create a secular, democratic state that protects the rights of all its citizens, the declaration was met with fear and hostility by the region’s isolated Serb minority. Serbian leaders pledged never to recognize an independent Kosovo and called on Serbs there to resist the new state. But they also ruled out a violent response.
Most of the estimated 100,000 Serbs still remaining live primarily in isolated enclaves under the protection of NATO troops, about 16,000 of whom still keep the peace here.
In Pristina, Kosovo’s capital, ethnic Albanians celebrated the declaration of independence with honking horns and gunfire, dancing to the sounds of American hip-hop and enjoying free beer and cake provided by local companies. Thousands waited in the freezing cold to sign a giant metal sculpture with 10-foot-tall letters spelling out the word “Newborn.”.....Article conts (-)
But the declaration of independence, which is backed by the United States and other Western powers, is likely to trigger an international diplomatic crisis over whether to recognize the new state.
“Now, all together, we are creating history,” declared Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, before presenting the declaration to Kosovo’s assembly for approval. “We are becoming an equal in the democratic world.”
Despite conciliatory words from Kosovo’s Albanian leaders, who promised to create a secular, democratic state that protects the rights of all its citizens, the declaration was met with fear and hostility by the region’s isolated Serb minority. Serbian leaders pledged never to recognize an independent Kosovo and called on Serbs there to resist the new state. But they also ruled out a violent response.
Most of the estimated 100,000 Serbs still remaining live primarily in isolated enclaves under the protection of NATO troops, about 16,000 of whom still keep the peace here.
In Pristina, Kosovo’s capital, ethnic Albanians celebrated the declaration of independence with honking horns and gunfire, dancing to the sounds of American hip-hop and enjoying free beer and cake provided by local companies. Thousands waited in the freezing cold to sign a giant metal sculpture with 10-foot-tall letters spelling out the word “Newborn.”.....Article conts (-)
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