With the campaign for the US elections in full swing, policy towards Kosovo has been in the headlines particularly in reference to where Presidential-hopeful Obama stands in regards to Kosovo's independence. With statements on both sides of the fence, Obama's camp issued a statement clarifying that he supports Kosovo independence. Both his running mate, Joe Biden, and personal advisor, Richard Holbrooke, have been long and strong supporters of Kosovo independence so it comes as little surprise to see the clarification come out.
Yesterday there was an explosion in Sunny Hill near a casino as two criminal gangs fought it out on the streets of Pristina in the wee hours of the morning. The explosion comes in midst of reports of how Kosovo has some of the cheapest narcotics in the region and police arresting arms smuggling gangs as well as the continued news on fuel smuggling in the north of Kosovo.
The number of countries recognizing Kosovo has gone up to 46 with the tiny Pacific country of Samoa officially recognizing. Serbia has taken the issue of the legality of Kosovo's independence to the UN and a debate is expected on Serbia's request. The president of Albania has said that Kosovo should become a member state of the UN. Meanwhile, the US Ambassador in Serbia has stated that Kosovo's status is resolved (which no doubt will make him popular there!) And a report has been issued by a Kosovo human rights group stating that independence was "good for Serbs" in Kosovo and that ethnic tensions have decreased.
MTCowgirl's Kosovo News
- Switzerland rejects Kosovo ambassador nomination due to criminal record
- Greece to recognize Kosovo passports
- Mitrovica court to re-open in October
- EULEX steps up deployment
- Albanians in Macedonia threaten unrest over Kosovo
- Little Albania grows towards mainstream
- Propoganda to blame for Serb confusion in Kosovo
- Report: religious freedoms respected in Kosovo
