by Kate Holman in Brussels
“KOSOVO is a one-year-old baby and it needs love, attention and commitment”, declared the new country’s deputy foreign minister Vlora Çitaku as Pristina celebrated the first anniversary of independence from Serbia on February 17.
“Within a year, Kosovo has shown that it can function as a state,” she told journalists in Brussels. Although Serbia is challenging the legality of the break-away through the United Nations, she described Kosovo’s statehood as “irreversible”. The government has adopted a constitution, passed 45 pieces of legislation and established ministries, embassies, an intelligence agency and security force, said Ms Çitaku, who added: “Kosovo’s independence is a fact.”
The country is already impatient to join its Balkan neighbours on the road to Europen Union membership, but is blocked by the five member states that have yet to recognise its status. A recent poll showed 89 per cent of the population is pro-EU but Ms Çitaku admitted the lack of consensus is generating a feeling of uncertainty. “We don’t want to feel like a rejected child,” she warned. “Europe has a choice. Will you let us join the family or not?”
She insisted it is merely a matter of time before Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania join the EU consensus. “We expect recognition, but I’m not going to give a date.”
Much also hangs on a European Commission feasibility study to be published in the autumn and, last week, EU Special Representative Peter Feith criticised Pristina for delays in crucial reforms.
