PRISTINA Kosovo awarded US Vice President Joe Biden with a medal here on Thursday during a visit to the former Serbian province whose independence he strongly advocated.

“Thank you... for honouring me with this medal. I was just presented with the Golden Medal of Freedom. I don't deserve it, but I received it on behalf of the United States,” Biden told reporters.

Biden, the highest-ranking US official to visit Kosovo since its ethnic Albanian-dominated parliament seceded from Serbia in February 2008, made the comments after meeting with President Fatmir Sejdiu and other leaders.

The United States was one of the first nations to recognise Kosovo's statehood, which Serbia and its old ally Russia reject as a breach of international law.

“The United States has made clear that the independence of Kosovo is irreversible and it will not change,” Biden said. “A whole and united Kosovo is a known requirement... of US policy. A united Kosovo is absolutely essential.”

Kosovo's “government has made considerable progress in the first year. The critical element in my view is the truly multi-ethnic nature of this society,” added the US vice president.—AFP