MERDARE (Serbia), March 9: “Welcome to the Republic of Kosovo” reads a plaque unveiled on Sunday by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, the first to stand at a crossing between the breakaway territory and Serbia.

“This plaque symbolises the border of the newest state of Kosovo which divides the past from the future, isolation from the opening of a perspective for integration,” Thaci said in the northern town of Merdare.

“Recognition of this border by our neighbour Serbia will be significant for a recognition of their European future,” Thaci said beside the signpost, which proudly displays its welcome message in English, Serbian and Albanian.

Ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia on Feb 17, and has since been recognised by a number of Western countries, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Italy.

But Belgrade, backed by its powerful ally Russia, angrily rejected the independence of its southern province, demanding the decision be annulled by the United Nations.

In a sign of continuing tension over the breakaway of Kosovo which sparked violent protests outside Western embassies in Belgrade Serbian army reservists had to be kept away from Merdare on Sunday by police.

The reservists, civilians who once served in the Serbian army, gathered instead for a protest against Kosovo independence at Kursumlija, some 40 kilometres inside the Serbian border.—AFP