Kosovo slams Serbia on independence anniversary

Serbia considers Kosovo a breakaway province and has asked the International Court of Justice to rule on the territory's status.

Kosovo on Wednesday lashed out at Serbia as its only foreign policy problem on the second anniversary of the tiny Balkan territory's contested declaration of independence.

"During the two years of our functioning as an independent country we have succeeded in proving to the world that the independence of Kosovo has brought a lot of peace and stability to the region," President Fatmir Sejdiu told a special session of the Kosovo parliament to mark the anniversary.

"Our only problem in the field of foreign relations remains Serbia, which continues its aggressive policy towards Kosovo."

Serbia considers Kosovo a breakaway province and has asked the International Court of Justice to rule on the territory's status.

Belgrade relinquished effective control of Kosovo in 1999 after Serb troops were ousted by a NATO-led bombing campaign. After nine years under UN administration, Kosovo declared independence in February 2008.

Sixty five countries, including the United States and all but five European Union members, have recognized Kosovo.

The United States remains a steadfast supporter of Kosovo's independence and on Wednesday Secretary of State Hillary Clinton congratulated Pristina.

"The United States remains a steadfast partner of the people and government of Kosovo, committed to strengthening Kosovo’s institutions and further developing a fully functioning, democratic, and multi-ethnic state able to achieve its Euro-Atlantic aspirations," she said in a statement.

The split in the European Union over Kosovo was highlighted again when Ulrike Lunacek, the European parliament's rapporteur on Kosovo, called on the five EU nations yet to recognise it to do so, with Spain snubbing her call.

Spain, the holder of the EU's rotating presidency, said: "It is not a question of European recognition in general terms, these are decisions for member states to take individually."

Spain is backed in its stance by Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Slovakia, either in solidarity with Serbia or over concerns that it could create a precedent for their own separatist areas.

Kosovo's independence has never been accepted by Serbia which runs a parallel administration in areas with Serb majorities.

Sejdiu said Serbia was pumping "hundreds of millions of euros" into the parallel structures which "bloc Serb citizens from integrating into the institutional and social life of Kosovo."

In Belgrade, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said Serbia will insist on fresh talks on the status of Kosovo after an ICJ ruling

Once the judges have issued their advisory opinion, Serbia "will do everything for the renewal of status dialogue, in order to find a solution acceptable for all sides," Jeremic told the Danas daily.

Kosovo is meanwhile trying to boost its international recognition.

Officials admit that new recognitions have been scarce this year -- only 11 compared to 54 in the first year of independence -- as many states await the the ICJ ruling, which is due in coming months.

"We are expecting new recognitions especially after the ICJ renders its opinion," Sejdiu said.

Both sides seem convinced that the court will rule in their favour.

While Kosovo politicians have stressed the success of the breakaway, people in the streets have raised concerns about the slow pace of development.

Official data show that Kosovo is among the poorest countries in Europe with more then 40 percent unemployment and 45 percent of the two million population living in poverty. Fifteen percent are classified as living in extreme poverty.