Rice Predicts Wider Recognition of Kosovo

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says Friday she expects growing international recognition of Kosovo and that opponents of independence for the former Serbian province will come to terms with that reality. Rice met with Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci to mark six months of Kosovar independence. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department. Kosovo independence was bitterly opposed by Serbia and its political ally Russia, which has blocked formal acceptance of the new state by the U.N. Security Council. But welcoming the two Kosovar leaders at the State Department, Secretary Rice said more than 40 countries have recognized Kosovo including a majority of Security Council member countries and over two-thirds of the members of the European Union and NATO. She pledged continuing support... [read full story]