AP News, January 8th, 2008
Kosovo's rival parties struck a power-sharing deal Monday to form a government that is expected to declare independence from Serbia this year.
Former rebel leader Hashim Thaci said his Democratic Party of Kosovo would govern alongside its key opponent, President Fatmir Sejdiu's Democratic League of Kosovo. The two party leaders signed the deal, which is to be voted on Wednesday by the province's 120-seat assembly.
"The No. 1 commitment of this government and of all Kosovo citizens is to formalize Kosovo as an independent, democratic state," prime minister-designate Thaci told reporters.
Both parties have backed statehood for the province, where the population is more than 90 percent ethnic Albanian.
The coalition's first challenge will be to steer the province through a declaration of independence from Serbia, which is backed by Western governments but fiercely opposed by Serbia and its ally Russia.
Kosovo, though legally part of Serbia, has been under U.N. and NATO control since NATO's 78-day bombing campaign in 1999 ended a Serb crackdown on separatist ethnic Albanians.
International envoys last year failed to resolve the issue of whether Kosovo should become independent or remain part of Serbia. Russia has previously threatened to veto any U.N. Security Council measure that allows Kosovo to become a state.
The new Kosovo government deal envisions Thaci, 39, becoming prime minister of the ethnically troubled province. His party, which won the most votes in November elections, would have control over seven ministries including finances, economy, energy and education.
Sejdiu — who took over the Democratic League of Kosovo after the death two years ago of Kosovo's first president, Ibrahim Rugova — would keep his post as the province's current president. His party colleagues would run five ministries, including justice and health.
The partnership between the two main ethnic Albanian parties is likely to be uneasy due to bitter rivalries lingering from the war.
After winning the elections, Thaci said he would swiftly declare independence, but has since said any such move would be coordinated with the United States and the European Union.
Western diplomats favored a broad political coalition they see as a guarantee of stability among ethnic Albanians as they move closer to the anticipated declaration of independence. No move is likely to take place before Serbia's presidential elections on Jan. 20 and possible Feb. 3 run-off.
Serbia, backed by Russia, insists that Kosovo — considered the cradle of Serbia's medieval state and religion — should remain part of its territory.
