PRISTINA (Kosovo): As it prepares to mark five years of independence on Sunday, Kosovo is closer than ever to normalising ties with long-time foe Serbia, but for many in the impoverished territory there is little to cheer.

Almost 100 countries have recognised Kosovo since ethnic Albanians proclaimed independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, although Belgrade itself still considers the breakaway region its southern province.

But talks mediated by the European Union have led to a thaw in relations in recent months, sparking hopes of a breakthrough that could pave the way for Kosovo to win a seat at the United Nations.

The political progress, however, has been overshadowed by the daily struggles of Kosovans, who say the euphoria of independence has worn off as they deal with the practical realities of living in disputed territory in one of Europe’s poorest regions.

Over a third of Kosovo’s 1.8 million people live on less than a dollar a day and gross domestic product per capita is one of the lowest in Europe at $3,500 a year, according to the World Bank.

Pristina has struggled to tackle organised crime and corruption, according to the European Commission’s latest report, and unemployment stands at 40 per cent.

Youngsters in Kosovo face “a miserable economy and lack of opportunities for a normal life,” said 28-year-old social scientist Agon Hamza.

Aside from the gloomy economic environment, ordinary people’s lives are complicated by its testy ties with Belgrade.

In an effort to ease tensions, much of the EU-sponsored talks have focussed on resolving some of these daily headaches, for instance by easing border controls or recognising each other’s university diplomas.

And with Serbia’s EU membership dependent on improving ties with Pristina, Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, who has been holding regular talks with his Pristina counterpart Hashim Thaci, has hinted Belgrade may give up his opposition to Kosovo’s long-held goal of joining the United Nations.

“Whether we will get a date for EU membership talks depends on that, whether we will get new foreign investments” depends on the positive outcome of the talks with Pristina, Dacic said on Monday.

The EU is also dangling a carrot to Pristina of an accelerated path towards the bloc.

As a result, the presidents of Kosovo and Serbia met in Brussels for the first time earlier this month.

The historic encounter came nearly 14 years after the 1998-1999 war between Belgrade and ethnic Albanian separatist guerrillas which ended when a Nato bombing campaign ousted late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic’s forces from Kosovo. Despite the slowly improving diplomatic ties, young football player Enis Gavazaj, considered one of Pristina’s rising stars, has run out of patience and is planning a career abroad.—AFP