Kosovo Marks Independence amid Better Ties with Serbia

Kosovo on Monday celebrated six years of independence marked by a historic improvement of ties with former foe Serbia, which was coaxed along by an EU-brokered deal last year.

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci told a special parliamentary session that "our vision of an independent Kosovo is one of a democratic country... ready to find its place within the family of free nations."

Several thousand people gathered in flag-bedecked streets in Kosovo's capital Pristina to watch a military and police parade to be followed by a fireworks display.

But there were some party-poopers.

Kosovo veterans of the 1998-1999 conflict with Serbia said they were staying away because of "dissatisfaction" with the general situation.

And many ordinary people in Kosovo bemoaned their limited economic prospects in one of Europe's poorest regions.

According to official figures, more than 30 percent of Kosovo's 1.8 million people are unemployed. The World Bank puts that figure at almost 40 percent.

"I'm happy that we are turning six, but my joy is overshadowed as I don't see any opportunity to find a job soon," Beqir Krasniqi, a 27- year-old lawyer, told Agence France Presse.

The deal signed last year under EU pressure has eased tensions and opened the way for both Serbia and Kosovo to contemplate joining the European bloc.

Although Serbia steadfastly refuses to recognize the independence of its former, majority ethnic-Albanian provice, it has normalized ties to a degree allowing it in January to open EU membership talks.

Kosovo also has agreement to enter talks on an EU stabilisation and association deal -- a lesser pact that is first step on a long path towards possible EU membership.

More than 100 countries, including the United States and most of the European Union's 28 member states, have recognized Kosovo since it proclaimed independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, following the 1998-1999 war.

The latter ended with a NATO bombing campaign against late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic's forces.