Kosovars walk past number ten sign marking the 10th anniversary of Kosovo independence on Wednesday Feb. 14, 2018, ahead of the upcoming 10th independence anniversary. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
The Associated Press
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) - Kosovo is celebrating 10 years of independence from Serbia in two-day festivities that started Saturday around the country.
British singer Rita Ora, who was born in Kosovo before her family left the country, headlines an open-air evening concert in Pristina. The main ceremony is taking place on Sunday, when President Hashim Thaci and Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli are due back from the Munich Security Conference.
A special panel on Kosovo is scheduled to be held at the Munich conference.
Kosovo is recognized by 117 countries, including the U.S. and most Western powers, and has joined about 200 international organizations.
Serbia, which for centuries has considered Kosovo the cradle of its civilization, still sees it as part of its own territory and has the support of Russia and China.
In Serbia's capital, Belgrade, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said Kosovo's independence remains fragile and won't be concluded without an agreement with Serbia.
"This is one unsuccessful experiment," Dacic insisted. "This is violence against Serbia, violence against international legal order."
Kosovo declared independence on Feb. 17, 2008, nine years after NATO conducted a 78-day airstrike campaign against Serbia to stop a bloody crackdown against ethnic Albanians.
In Mitrovica, the center of the Serb-dominated part of northern Kosovo, posters declaring "10 years of the occupation of Kosovo and Metohija" were put up in many places, the Kosovapress in Albania reported.
Walls in the city were covered with graffiti, the Serbian flag and a sign reading in Serbian, "Kosovo is Serbia - Crimea is Russia."
"Unfortunately, the Serb community has not made up their mind yet about this independence. Neither is Belgrade certain how they see the status of Kosovo," Mitrovica resident Branislav Krstic said.
Kosovo has taken a first step to European Union membership by signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement. But the country faces serious challenges besides its relations with Serbia, including the rule of law, unemployment, corruption and organized crime.
Five European Union members also don't recognize Kosovo's independence.
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Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania, and Jovana Gec in Belgrade contributed.
A student named Pavarsia Sopi, 10 poses for a photo in front of flag of Kosovo during an independence celebration ceremony at a school in the village of Sllovi near the town of Lipjan, Kosovo on Friday Feb. 16, 2018, ahead of the upcoming 10th independence anniversary. A student of the school, Pavaresia Sopi, 10, was the first child born after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Pavaresia translates in English as "Independence". (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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A powered paraglider with a Kosovo national flag circles above Kosovo capital Pristina for the upcoming 10th independence anniversary on Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, 2008 and has so far been recognized by 114 countries, including the United States and a majority of European Union members.(AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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People walk near the statue of former U.S president Bill Clinton in Kosovo capital Pristina on Thursday Feb. 15, 2018, ahead of the upcoming 10th independence anniversary. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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Kosovo prime minister Ramush Haradinaj looks at the Declaration of Independence in his office in Kosovo capital Pristina on Wednesday Feb. 14, 2018, ahead of the upcoming 10th independence anniversary. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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People visit the martyrs cemetery of KLA fighters in the village of Stagove, Kosvov on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018 ahead of the upcoming 10th independence anniversary. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008 file photo a man paints a pro-USA slogan on the wall in Gnjilane, Kosovo. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
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FILE - In this Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008 file photo a Kosovar Albanian man holds an Albanian flag on his roof-top over the ethnically divided town of Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo as he celebrates the upcoming independence of Kosovo. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Bela Szandelszky, File)
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A young couple is seen on their night out in capital Pristina on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 ahead of the upcoming 10th independence anniversary. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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Children hold a flag that reads: "10 Year of Statehood", in the main square of Pristina, Kosovo on Saturday Feb. 17, 2018, on the 10th anniversary of the country's independence. Kosovo is celebrating 10 years of independence from Serbia in two-day festivities around the country on Saturday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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Thousands of people walk down the main pedestrian zone in Pristina, Kosovo on Saturday Feb. 17, 2018, on the 10th anniversary of the country's independence. Kosovo is celebrating 10 years of independence from Serbia in two-day festivities around the country on Saturday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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A child dressed in Albanian national clothing is carried down the main pedestrian zone in Pristina, Kosovo on Saturday Feb. 17, 2018, on the 10th anniversary of the country's independence. Kosovo is celebrating 10 years of independence from Serbia in two-day festivities around the country on Saturday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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Kosovo and U.S flags decorate the main square in Pristina, Kosovo on Saturday Feb. 17, 2018, on the 10th anniversary of the country's independence. Kosovo is celebrating 10 years of independence from Serbia in two-day festivities around the country on Saturday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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People pass by the "NEWBORN' monument in the main square of Pristina, Kosovo, on Saturday Feb. 17, 2018, on the 10th anniversary of the country's independence. Kosovo is celebrating 10 years of independence from Serbia in two-day festivities around the country on Saturday. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
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