Pristina, Kosovo: Vice President Joe Biden said today that the United States would remain a "champion" of an independent Kosovo, but he firmly warned its leaders against the "cancer" of corruption.
On his first visit to Kosovo since 2009 -- the year after it unilaterally declared independence from Serbia -- Biden held talks with President Hashim Thaci and other leaders before a dedication ceremony naming a road after his late son.
"I'm here today to affirm the United States is going to continue to stand with the people of Kosovo on your journey to become a prosperous, peaceful and multiethnic democracy," Biden told reporters.
Biden said he would leave Kosovo with a "renewed sense of hope" and "feeling vindicated" for advocating its independence, which has since been recognised by more than 100 countries but not by Serbia or Russia.
"In short, it jeopardises everything Kosovo hopes to achieve, hopes to become, hopes for its future," Biden said, adding that "violence and intimidation" were also "not tolerable in any modern democracy".
Protesters have also taken to the streets in anger at Thaci and his colleagues, accusing them of alleged corruption and slow economic development.
Kosovo has launched an anti-graft campaign in order to advance its dreams of joining the European Union.
On his first visit to Kosovo since 2009 -- the year after it unilaterally declared independence from Serbia -- Biden held talks with President Hashim Thaci and other leaders before a dedication ceremony naming a road after his late son.
"I'm here today to affirm the United States is going to continue to stand with the people of Kosovo on your journey to become a prosperous, peaceful and multiethnic democracy," Biden told reporters.
Biden said he would leave Kosovo with a "renewed sense of hope" and "feeling vindicated" for advocating its independence, which has since been recognised by more than 100 countries but not by Serbia or Russia.
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"In short, it jeopardises everything Kosovo hopes to achieve, hopes to become, hopes for its future," Biden said, adding that "violence and intimidation" were also "not tolerable in any modern democracy".
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Protesters have also taken to the streets in anger at Thaci and his colleagues, accusing them of alleged corruption and slow economic development.
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Kosovo has launched an anti-graft campaign in order to advance its dreams of joining the European Union.
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