Kudos for Kosovo Elections

A year after declaring independence from Serbia, Kosovo has received good marks from European monitors for its first round of local elections, which could lead to wider recognition and acceptance of its newly established status in the international community.  —KA

BBC:

The government had been keen to ensure both the majority Albanians and the Serb minority took part in voting. Security was tight, especially in Serb areas.

Voting passed off peacefully, with turnout among minority Serbs thought to be higher than expected in some areas. Officials put the overall turnout at about 45%.

On Monday Mr Thaci told cheering supporters in Pristina that the PDK’s victory was a testament to “good governance in the republic of Kosovo”.

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Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, who on Monday signaled thumbs up after his country’s first round of local elections, visits the Pentagon in this photo from July 2008.