Switzerland to open embassy in Kosovo

PRISTINA, Serbia, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland will become the third country to open an embassy in Kosovo after Britain and Germany, the Swiss Liaison Office said Thursday.

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey will start a two-day visit to Kosovo Friday and officially open the embassy, which is now the Swiss Liaison Office.

During her stay, Calmy-Rey will meet Kosovo's Albanian leaders and visit some Serb areas in central Kosovo, the Swiss office said.

Switzerland is one of the 33 countries that have recognized Kosovo since its declaration of independence on Feb. 17.