Tirana hails Kosovo’s new institutions

TIRANA, Feb. 23 – Official Tirana hailed the election of the new government and president in neighboring Kosovo.
In separate letters President Bamir Topi and Prime Minister Sali Berisha congratulated their counterparts for the new posts and tasks ahead and assured of their assistance and support in their job.
On Tuesday Kosovo’s parliament elected former rebel leader Hashim Thaci to a second term as prime minister and chose businessman Behgjet Pacolli as the country’s new president.
Hashim Thaci was voted in 65-1 to head a coalition government facing growing social tensions and a new round of talks with Serbia aimed at resolving a score of disputes. He also faces an investigation into allegations that members of the now-disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army once sold the organs of their civilian captives
Pacolli, a self-declared multimillionaire who owns a Swiss-based construction company, received 62 votes, with 4 against. Pacolli, the country’s second president since Kosovo seceded from Serbia in 2008, was elected on the third attempt, after failing to secure at least 80 votes in the first two rounds of voting as required by law.
Thaci’s party won the most votes in Kosovo’s Dec. 12 election that was marred by electoral fraud and a series of voting irregularities before results were finally certified by election authorities. He was forced to form a coalition with minority parties to rule, including that of key ally, 59-year-old Pacolli.
Kosovo’s independence has been recognized by 75 countries, but Serbia has pledged to revert the secession.