27 May 2008 | On the occasion of the adoption of Kosovo’s new constitution, the young state plans to distinguish Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright and Wesley Clark for their contribution towards its independence.

When the constitution comes into force, which is expected to take place on June 15, important international figures will be invited to an official commemorative ceremony, Priština’s newspaper Koha Ditore reported today.

The government in Priština intends to distinguish Bill Clinton and Madeleine Albright – the former US President and Secretary of State respectively, as well as Wesley Clark, the ex-Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO, and other figures who supported Kosovo in its strife for independence.

As BalkanTravellers.com wrote, many factors accompany Kosovo’s on-going nation-building project. Some of them, such as the adoption of a new constitution, the choice of a new flag and the declaration of national holidays have already taken place.

However, in its struggle to find new symbols that are acceptable to both the ethnic Albanians and the Serbs that populate its territory, which BalkanTravellers.com wrote about, Kosovo has found some new heroes – such as Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright and Wesley Clark. For example, one of the main boulevards in the capital Priština is named after Clinton, though the plan to crown it with a three-metre tall statue of the former US President has been put on hold for the time being.

Read more about Kosovo on BalkanTravellers.com