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OSLO, Norway — Former President Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, who is scheduled to receive the Nobel Peace Prize here today in recognition of a long career mediating conflicts around the globe, on Tuesday tried to shore up support for Kosovo’s claim to independence in the face of opposition from Russia and Serbia.
“Kosovo is independent, and it will remain independent,” he said, adding, “The progress there is irreversible.”
Even as Ahtisaari spoke, U.N. officials in Kosovo were handing over civilian law enforcement responsibilities to the European Union and local authorities.
While more than 40 nations have recognized Kosovo’s independence from Serbia, Russia and Serbia have insisted that it is still a Serbian province.
