BELGRADE, June 18 (RIA Novosti) - Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu signed a decree on Wednesday to open embassies in countries that have backed the former Serbian province's independence, according to local media reports.
Kosovo plans to open embassies in the U.S., the U.K., France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Albania.
The move comes as Kosovo's new constitution entered into force on June 15.
Kosovo, with a 90% ethnic-Albanian majority, has been formally recognized as a sovereign state by 43 countries including the U.S. and most EU members since it proclaimed its independence from Serbia on February 17.
Russia and China back Belgrade's position that Kosovo must remain a part of Serbia.
