We hereby affirm, clearly, specifically, and irrevocably, that Kosovo shall be legally bound to comply with the provisions contained in this Declaration, including, especially, the obligations for it under the Ahtisaari Plan. In all of these matters, we shall act consistent with principles of international law and resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations, including resolution 1244 (1999). We declare publicly that all states are entitled to rely upon this declaration, and appeal to them to extend to us their support and friendship.

Significant progress has been made across the Balkans – both east and west – since the early 1990s. The improvements are remarkable yet there remains a substantial distance to cover. This is mainly due to the role of networks, the pervasive nature of informality, the kind of borders that cut across the countries and societies of Southeast Europe, and the still limited scope of regional co-operation.

It is crucial for the authorities in post-conflict societies to reform their military (and paramilitary), police, intelligence and border control forces, customs and judiciary to bring about lasting change. Without substantial reforms in these areas, it is almost impossible to achieve sustainable peace, democracy and development.

Seven years after Kosovo was placed under United Nations control, it appears increasingly likely that the province will be allowed to formally break away from Serbia and become an independent nation.

The people of Montenegro (pop. 620,000) on Sunday chose to break up their union with Serbia -all that was left of Yugoslavia- and give birth to the Continent's 24th and 25th new nation-states since the end of the Cold War. As long as these decisions are freely, peacefully and constitutionally made, we say the more the merrier.

As European Union and U.S. diplomats this week shepherded talks on a permanent status for Kosovo, the Serbian province where the North Atlantic Treaty Organization went to war in 1999, there was little doubt about the final outcome: independence.

Democratically elected governments are installed in every one of the western Balkan countries—Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Albania. Some, notably Bosnia and Herzegovina, have managed to return significant numbers of refugees to their homes. All aspire to join the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).