Lisbon: Atifete Jahjaga has been elected Kosovo’s first female president of the Balkan nation as it seeks to improve relations with its former federation partner Serbia.
Lawmakers in the capital Pristina voted 80-10 to appoint 35-year-old Jahjaga, former deputy chief of the Kosovo police, according to public broadcaster Radiotelevizioni i Kosoves. She will serve a one-year term, after which the country’s 2 million residents will pick a new leader in a popular vote.
Last month, Kosovo’s apex court ruled that the Parliament’s decision to choose businessman Behgjet Pacolli was illegal. The administration of Hashim Thaci, re-nominated Prime Minister in February must amend ties with Serbia, revive the economy, root out corruption and eventually win a visa-free travel regime to the European Union.
“We have a shared past” with Serbia, and “we are forced to share the future,” with it, she said after being elected. “The dialog will be successful and after it the region will return to the peace. Kosovo and Serbia will have an open path towards the EU and the citizens of the two countries will return to a normal life.”
Serbia, which aims to win EU-candidate status this year, refuses to recognize its former province and is joined by five of the 27-bloc members in doing so. The United States and 22 other EU nations treat Kosovo as an independent country.
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