LIPJAN, Kosovo — All the students in a tiny village in Kosovo have gathered to celebrate a very special day for Pavaresia Sopi — a 10th birthday with deep significance for her whole Balkan nation. Pavaresia, whose name means “independence” in Albanian, was the first baby born in an independent Kosovo, 15 minutes after independence was declared at an afternoon session in parliament on Feb. 17, 2008. The 4th-grade students celebrated Friday in Sllovi, 17 kilometres (11 miles) south of the capital, Pristina with a concert and other festivities. Happy Birthday!”“I feel so happy that I have come to life at that important moment for Kosovo,” said Pavaresia. “We are hopeful that Kosovo will shine one day like Pavaresia,” said her teacher Mimoza Kryeziu.

Source: National Post February 16, 2018 13:52 UTC