Photos: Kosovo celebrates 5 years of independence from Serbia
February 17, 2013
Kosovo Security Force and Kosovo police members parade in the center of Pristina marking the 5th anniversary since Kosovo seceded from Serbia on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Serbia rejects Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu )
Kosovo Security Force members parade in the center of Pristina marking the 5th anniversary since Kosovo seceded from Serbia on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Serbia rejects Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Dancers perform during a celebration marking the fifth anniversary of Kosovo's declared independence from Serbia in Pristina February 17, 2013. Kosovo marked five years since it seceded from Serbia on Sunday, with flag-filled streets, a military parade and growing signs of progress in EU-mediated talks to regulate relations between the Balkan neighbors. Majority-Albanian Kosovo declared independence in 2008 with the backing of the Western powers which waged a NATO air war in 1999 to wrest control of the territory from late Serb strongman Slobodan Milosevic. REUTERS/Hazir Reka
A clown performs during a celebration marking the fifth anniversary of Kosovo's declared independence from Serbia in Pristina February 17, 2013. Kosovo marked five years since it seceded from Serbia on Sunday, with flag-filled streets, a military parade and growing signs of progress in EU-mediated talks to regulate relations between the Balkan neighbors. Majority-Albanian Kosovo declared independence in 2008 with the backing of the Western powers which waged a NATO air war in 1999 to wrest control of the territory from late Serb strongman Slobodan Milosevic. REUTERS/Hazir Reka
Kosovo Albanian children watch Kosovo Security Force members and emergency services parade in the center of Pristina marking the 5th anniversary since Kosovo seceded from Serbia on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Serbia rejects Kosovo's independence. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
People sing and dance during a celebration marking the fifth anniversary of Kosovo's declared independence from Serbia in Pristina February 17, 2013. Kosovo marked five years since it seceded from Serbia on Sunday, with flag-filled streets, a military parade and growing signs of progress in EU-mediated talks to regulate relations between the Balkan neighbors. Majority-Albanian Kosovo declared independence in 2008 with the backing of the Western powers which waged a NATO air war in 1999 to wrest control of the territory from late Serb strongman Slobodan Milosevic. REUTERS/Hazir Reka
Kosovo Albanian men paint the Newborn monument in Pristina on February 13, 2013. Five years after breaking from Serbia, Kosovo is yet to win the ultimate recognition -- a seat at the United Nations -- hopefully at the end of EU-sponsored dialogue with Belgrade. Since on February 17, 2008, parliament in Pristina unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia, some 98 countries have recognized Kosovo, including the United States and 22 out of 27 members of the European Union. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images
Kosovo Albanian volunteers gather to paint the flags of the countries that have recognized Kosovo's independence on to the "NEWBORN" monument marking the secession of Kosovo from Serbia in capital Pristina on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. (AP Photo / Visar Kryeziu )
A woman paints a sign decorated with paintings of flags of the 98 countries that have recognised Kosovo's independence, in Pristina February 17, 2013. Kosovo marks the fifth anniversary of its independence from Serbia on Sunday. REUTERS/Hazir Reka
A Kosovo Albanian youth wearing ski goggles and a Kosovo flag stands near the "NEWBORN" monument painted with flags of the countries that have recognized Kosovo's independence marking the 5th anniversary since Kosovo seceded from Serbia in capital Pristina on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Serbia rejects Kosovo independence. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
A Kosovo Albanian man stands in front of a billboard reading "Happy fifth anniversary of independence" on February 13, 2013 in Pristina. Five years after breaking from Serbia, Kosovo is yet to win the ultimate recognition -- a seat at the United Nations -- hopefully at the end of EU-sponsored dialogue with Belgrade. Since on February 17, 2008, parliament in Pristina unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia, some 98 countries have recognized Kosovo, including the United States and 22 out of 27 members of the European Union. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images
A Kosovo Security Force honor guard leads the parade in the center of Pristina marking the 5th anniversary since Kosovo seceded from Serbia Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Serbia rejects Kosovo's independence. Banner on wall at right shows the late Kosovo leader Ibrahim Rugova. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Members of the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) drive in camouflaged vehicles during a celebration marking the fifth anniversary of Kosovo's declared independence from Serbia in Pristina February 17, 2013. Kosovo marked five years since it seceded from Serbia on Sunday, with flag-filled streets, a military parade and growing signs of progress in EU-mediated talks to regulate relations between the Balkan neighbors. Majority-Albanian Kosovo declared independence in 2008 with the backing of the Western powers which waged a NATO air war in 1999 to wrest control of the territory from late Serb strongman Slobodan Milosevic. REUTERS/Hazir Reka
Kosovo Albanians place Albanian flags on a bridge near the town of Kacanik on February 16, 2013, in preparation for the fifth anniversary of Kosovo's declaration of independence. On February 17, Kosovo will mark the second anniversary of its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia. Kosovo, an ethnic Albanian-majority province of Serbia, proclaimed independence unilaterally on February 17, 2008 in a Western-backed move seen as the final chapter in the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images
Kosovo Albanians hold up Kosovar, Albanian and American flags to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Kosovo's declaration of independence in Pristina on February 17, 2013. Kosovo is marking the fifth anniversary of its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia. An ethnic Albanian-majority province of Serbia, Kosovo proclaimed independence unilaterally on February 17, 2008 in a Western-backed move seen as the final chapter in the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images
Members of the National state song and dance Ensemble "Shota" perform at the national theatre in Pristina on February 15, 2013. Kosovo will mark the fifth anniversary of its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia on February 17. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images
Members of the National state song and dance Ensemble "Shota" perform at the national theatre in Pristina on February 15, 2013. Kosovo will mark the fifth anniversary of its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbion on February 17. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images
Boys wearing the Kosovan flag (L) and the Albanian flag (2nd L) attend celebrations of the fifth anniversary of Kosovo's declaration of independence in Pristina on February 17, 2013. Kosovo is marking the fifth anniversary of its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia. An ethnic Albanian-majority province of Serbia, Kosovo proclaimed independence unilaterally on February 17, 2008 in a Western-backed move seen as the final chapter in the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images
Kosovo Albanians celebrate during the fifth anniversary of Kosovo's declaration of independence in Pristina on February 17, 2013. Kosovo is marking the fifth anniversary of its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia. An ethnic Albanian-majority province of Serbia, Kosovo proclaimed independence unilaterally on February 17, 2008 in a Western-backed move seen as the final chapter in the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images
Kosovo Albanians celebrate the fifth anniversary of Kosovo's declaration of independence in Pristina on February 17, 2013. Kosovo is marking the fifth anniversary of its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia. An ethnic Albanian-majority province of Serbia, Kosovo proclaimed independence unilaterally on February 17, 2008 in a Western-backed move seen as the final chapter in the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images
A man walks past a sign decorated with paintings of flags of the 98 countries that have recognized Kosovo's independence, in Pristina February 17, 2013. Kosovo marks the fifth anniversary of its independence from Serbia on Sunday. REUTERS/Hazir Reka
A Kosovo Albanian woman walks past graffiti reading "Kosovo Republic" in Pristina on February 13, 2013. Five years after breaking from Serbia, Kosovo is yet to win the ultimate recognition -- a seat at the United Nations -- hopefully at the end of EU-sponsored dialogue with Belgrade. Since on February 17, 2008, parliament in Pristina unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia, some 98 countries have recognized Kosovo, including the United States and 22 out of 27 members of the European Union. ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images
A woman walks past graffiti on a wall reading: "My beloved country...", "All as one!" and "Kosovo is Serbia" in a suburb of Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. The predominantly ethnic Albanian leadership of Kosovo, Serbia's medieval heartland, proclaimed independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008 with Western backing. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)