WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Kosovo is rapidly emerging as a strong, democratic, multi-ethnic nation that will continue to receive enthusiastic support from the United States, McCain said in a speech to the nation’s parliament on Thursday.
"I want you to know that Members of the United States Congress in both political parties are fully committed to working with you to support peace and prosperity in Kosovo and throughout the wider region," McCain stated. "Indeed the United States’ commitment to Kosovo has been bipartisan from the very beginning."
McCain praised Europe’s newest nation for having adopted a constitution, built a government from the ground up and having joined international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Despite McCain’s optimism, Kosovo is beset with corruption, organized crime and Islamic extremists, according to published reports. Since declaring independence in 2008, Kosovo has also served as a staging ground for attacks on neighboring Balkan nations such as Macedonia.
Reports also detail plans by Albanian radicals in Kosovo and elsewhere in the region to form a "Greater Albania," by carving out territory from neighboring states.
