The United States and Kosovo signed on September 14 2009 their first official bilateral agreements on US economic assistance and on support for building the rule of law in Kosovo.
 
Kosovo president Fatmir Sejdiu said at the signing that the economic assistance agreement showed the commitment of the US to helping Kosovo, voanews.com reported.
 
The assistance will be used primarily to support infrastructure, transportation and education in the country.
 
Sejdiu said that the financial assistance would present a special stimulus for the more rapid development of Kosovo.
 
US ambassador Christopher Dell re-emphasised the commitment of the US to strengthen the state and democracy in Kosovo.
 
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, a move rejected by Serbia – with the backing of Russia and other states – as illegal, but the US and several European Union countries, along with some of Serbia’s neighbours, have recognised Kosovo as independent.
 
According to the website of the US embassy in Pristina, Dell told the signing ceremony: "The United States is firmly committed to promoting the rule of law, and to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Republic of Kosovo, its leaders and its institutions and citizens, as you establish the policies and structures that will safeguard the rights and freedoms of your people."
 
Dell said that the September 14 agreement on rule of law "carries special significance as an act of two sovereign states". 
 
"As an independent country, Kosovo's future is in the hands of its citizens and their elected leaders. The US embassy will consult closely with the government of Kosovo to determine how US rule of law assistance can be most effective both now and in the future," Dell said.     
 
"This agreement – for almost $13 million – is in addition to the robust support we have already contributed to Rule of Law programmes for many years," he said. 
 
Dell said that the support under the rule of law programme would help train and equip the Kosovo police and would provide courses to prosecutors and judges. 

"The programmes that we run thanks to this US government funding will help your government to develop modern and streamlined institutions and to ensure that your laws and institutions are sound and compatible with those of other nations," Dell said.