U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said Kosovo's progress over 15 years of independence has been "remarkable for its great strides in developing a stable, multiethnic, inclusive democracy." In a statement to mark the 15th anniversary of Kosovo's independence on February 17, Blinken said he looks forward to continued collaboration on the United States' and Kosovo's "shared priorities to strengthen security and stability" in Kosovo and the Western Balkans. "Normalization of relations with Serbia, centered on eventual mutual recognition, remains essential to this," he added. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Balkan Service, click here.