Rice: U.S. to continue supporting Kosovo

WASHINGTON, July 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pledged on Friday to continue U.S. aid to Kosovo, which unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia in February. "The United States will continue to assist Kosovo as it builds its multiethnic government and its democratic institutions," Rice told reporters after talks with visiting Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. "More than 40 countries have recognized Kosovo, including over two-thirds of the European Union and NATO, and a majority of UN Security Council members," Rice said with the two Kosovo leaders at presence. Rice also named Tina Kaidanow, currently the U.S. charge d'affaires in Pristina, as the first U.S. ambassador to Kosovo. In March, U.S. President George W. Bush authorized supplying Kosovo with weapons after... [read full story]