U.S. and EU powers recognize Kosovo

PRISTINA, Serbia-Europe's biggest states and the United States said on Monday they were recognizing Kosovo, a day after it seceded from Serbia.Paris was first to announce its move after a European Union foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, and Britain, Germany and Italy followed immediately.Then Washington said the words Kosovo's 2 million Albanians have long dreamed of."The United States has today formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. We congratulate the people of Kosovo on this historic occasion," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement.It was a great relief for Pristina which had nervously awaited expected Western blessing of its secession, but a black day for Serbia, cementing the loss of what it sees as its spiritual homeland. "The recognition of Kosovo is as important as the declaration of independence," Kosovo's deputy prime minister Hajredin Kuci told Reuters."We are grateful ... This is a crucial issue for new state of Kosovo and its functioning."Finland also said it would be among those recognizing too-despite the anger of Serbia and its main backer, Russia. Turkey also recognized the territory it once ruled in Ottoman times...

To read more go to:

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSHAM53437920080218

As in the days of Noah....