June 29 (Kosovo Times) - Kosovo signed the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank) on behalf of Kosovo at the State Department in Washington. US Under Secretary of State Steinberg was present in the ceremony on behalf of the United States Government as the depository of the Articles of Agreement of the IMF and the World Bank.
While signing the articles President Sejdiu said that Kosovo is going to be a good partner, a responsible member of the international community and the international financial community. The accession marks a milestone for recognition of one of Europe's poorest countries after its unilateral declaration of independence on February 17, 2008.
"We will do our best to be worthy to be equal to all of the rest of the world," Kosovan Finance Minister Ahmet Shala said at a news conference at IMF headquarters in Washington.
"For years we have had a dream to be equal" and membership "has made that dream come true," he said
"I believe with this membership more countries are going to recognize Kosovo," he added.
"It gives me great pleasure to welcome Kosovo, the first new member to join the fund during my tenure," the IMF managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, said in a statement.
"I am particularly pleased with the commitment of the Kosovar authorities to further strengthening the sustainability of their policy framework," said the former French finance minister, who took the helm of the IMF in November 2007.
The Kosovan finance minister said that more than 95 percent of Kosovans had voted in favor of joining the institutions.
A 50 percent tax reduction last year had helped double investment and the country was set for economic growth of "around 4.0 percent to 5.0 percent" in 2010, he said.
In response to a question about what immediate help Kosovo may seek from the two institutions, Shala said that "many projects are waiting for support from the World Bank."
Shala noted a privatization process was underway and the country was "working hard" with international partners, citing road construction projects.
"Kosovo is ready for investment," he said. 

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