An extraordinary session of Kosovo parliament accepted on Feb. 17 a historic document, which declared the political independence of this southern Serb area with a predominantly Albanian population. This legislative act gave birth to the Balkans' newest country. The declaration was signed immediately after the vote by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, who said: "Kosovo is proud, independent, and free. Kosovo will never again be ruled from Belgrade. It will be democratic multi-ethnic country." Thousands of exuberant Albanians celebrated with a loud roar the arrival of their independence day. Local media claimed that in Pristina, the crowd approached a million. In a stark contrast to this happiness, the mood in Mitrovica, to the north, was gloomy and tense. Local Serbs came out in thousands, too, singing old Serb revolutionary songs and waving their standards. chanted, "We are not giving up our Kosovo."