Macedonia, Kosovo Establish Diplomatic Ties

Macedonia and Kosovo established diplomatic ties on Sunday shortly after their respective parliament ratified a border demarcation agreement between the two sides, Xinhua reported.
   Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki and his Kosovo counterpart Skender Hyseni signed a joint communique in which the two sides pledge to strengthen friendly ties on the basis of mutual respect of national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
   "The two ministers voiced their enormous satisfaction with the signing of the communique, emphasizing that, besides enhancing cooperation between the sides, establishment of diplomatic relations is in the interest of regional peace and stability," a press release from Macedonian foreign ministry said.
   The parliaments of Macedonia and Kosovo ratified a border agreement late Saturday night, ending a long dispute over the volatile region between the two sides.
   The border between Macedonia and Kosovo was left unmarked due to a long-standing spat between Belgrade and Pristina over who has jurisdiction over the Kosovo side of the border.
   Kosovo, a southern Serbian province, declared unilateral independence in February, 2008. And Macedonia recognized its independence last October.