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Kosovo marks 'independence day' Kosovo marks 'independence day'
(about 8 hours later)
Events are being held across Kosovo on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia. Kosovo has marked the first anniversary of its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia.
Kosovo has been striving to secure its borders and develop its economy in the face of opposition from Serbia, which refuses to recognise its independence. Parliament in Pristina held a special session at 1100 local time - the hour at which the declaration was made - while thousands celebrated outside.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci says it is building a homeland for all its people. Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said it had been "a year of historic success".
But correspondents say parts of northern Kosovo remain tensely divided between ethnic Albanians and Serbs. Serbia still refuses to recognise Kosovo and correspondents say parts of northern Kosovo remain tensely divided between ethnic Albanians and Serbs.
MPs from the Serbian parliament in Belgrade are due to hold a committee meeting in Kosovo in protest against the anniversary. MPs from the Serbian parliament in Belgrade attended the assembly set up by the Serb minority in protest at Tuesday's celebrations.
Ethnic Albanians constitute 90% of Kosovo's two million people.Ethnic Albanians constitute 90% of Kosovo's two million people.
'Complete success' 'Happy birthday'
Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence last year has so far been recognised by only 54 of the United Nation's 192 countries, including the US, Japan and all but five of the 27 members of the European Union. Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence last year has so far been recognised by only 54 of the UN's 192 countries, including the US, Japan and all but five of the 27 members of the European Union.
We will be recognised by the entire world Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci Mixed reaction to anniversary STANCE ON RECOGNITION 54 of the UN's 192 countries and 22 of the 27 EU member states have recognised Kosovo's independence. For: US, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Turkey, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, MacedoniaAgainst: Serbia, Russia, China, India, Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus, Bosnia Mixed reaction to anniversary
Serbia, backed by Russia, has refused to recognise the declaration and has challenged its legality at the UN's International Court of Justice.Serbia, backed by Russia, has refused to recognise the declaration and has challenged its legality at the UN's International Court of Justice.
Speaking before the anniversary celebrations, Prime Minister Thaci said Kosovo's first full year as an independent state had been "a complete success". In a BBC interview, Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu said he expected other nations to join those who had so far recognised its independence, even though the government was not yet in control of all of its territory.
"We will be recognised by the entire world," he told the Associated Press. "Kosovo's independence represents the most rational step of its own time, as it gave its people the chance to live in freedom and peace with its neighbours, and aspirations to integrate into the bigger European family," he said.
Mr Thaci said Kosovo and its government had achieved 6% economic growth, created thousands of new jobs, constructed dozens of new schools and thousands of miles of roads, and integrated the Serb minority into society. Mr Sejdiu said Kosovo had paid particular care to safeguard the rights of minorities and wanted to be the "fatherland for all its citizens".
"We're building a homeland for all of Kosovo's people," he added. FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/index.shtml">More from BBC World Service
A series of events have been organised by the ethnic Albanian authorities as part of the celebrations to mark independence day. As parliament held a special session on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Thaci told MPs that this was the "biggest and most important holiday for the people of Kosovo".
STANCE ON RECOGNITION 54 of the UN's 192 countries and 22 of the 27 EU member states have recognised Kosovo's independence. For: US, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Turkey, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, MacedoniaAgainst: Serbia, Russia, China, India, Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus, Bosnia "The year we left behind was a year of achievement and of pride. It was a year of historic success for our country," he said.
Thousands of school children will parade around the capital, Pristina, and there will be open air concerts and firework displays. Outside, thousands of people gathered to mark the anniversary, many waving Kosovo's new flag and banners saying "happy birthday".
But compared to the euphoria a year ago, the first anniversary of the split from Serbia is likely to be more muted, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in Pristina says. For ethnic Albanians this is the chance not just to celebrate but also to remember those who died fighting for independence, the BBC's Helen Fawkes in Pristina says.
Our correspondent says Kosovo now has its own flag, constitution and national anthem, but many people are disappointed that their lives have not improved much. The Serb population, however, is ignoring the anniversary - for them, Kosovo's breakaway from Serbia was an illegal act and it is still part of Serbia, she adds.
Kosovo still remains deeply divided along ethnic lines, and the Serb population does not recognise the state's independence, she adds.
'Fragile''Fragile'
Albanian leaders say the Serbs are being constantly encouraged by the authorities in Belgrade to boycott and reject any offers coming from Pristina.Albanian leaders say the Serbs are being constantly encouraged by the authorities in Belgrade to boycott and reject any offers coming from Pristina.
The Serb minority is protected by a Nato-led peacekeeping forceThe Serb minority is protected by a Nato-led peacekeeping force
On Tuesday, in defiance of the anniversary celebrations, Serbian deputies plan to travel from Belgrade to the northern Kosovo municipality of Zvecan, which is controlled by Serbs, to attend a session of their own parliament. On Tuesday, in defiance of the anniversary celebrations, Serbian deputies travelled from Belgrade to the northern Kosovo municipality of Zvecan, which is controlled by Serbs, to attend a session of their alternative parliament.
The government in Pristina has said any provocation will be dealt with by Kosovo's police force. Meanwhile, Serbian President Boris Tadic vowed that his country would never recognise the independence of its former province and would defend its "legitimate rights by legal and diplomatic means, not force".
The EU special representative to Kosovo, Pieter Feith, told the BBC that it had serious concerns about security in the Serb dominated north. "Kosovo is not a country," he said in a statement.
"It's fragile and we have seen over the past few weeks incidents of violence," he said.
"It may erupt again very soon so it's extremely unstable and we need to find a solution for this once and for all."
The Serb minority and their religious sites are currently protected by a Nato-led force. Also helping to keep order is the EU's largest ever police and justice mission, Eulex, which deployed in December.The Serb minority and their religious sites are currently protected by a Nato-led force. Also helping to keep order is the EU's largest ever police and justice mission, Eulex, which deployed in December.
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Are you in Kosovo? Are you planning to take part in any events? What have been your experiences of the last year? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Kosovo? Are you planning to take part in any events? What have been your experiences of the last year? Send us your comments using the form below.
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