STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, says U.S. President-elect Barack Obama should concentrate on the Middle East.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari is a great triumph for the Finnish government -- and for the government of China.

OSLO, Norway, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Finland's former president Martti Ahtisaari won the Nobel Peace Prize Friday for his mediation in hot spots around the world, the Nobel Foundation announced.

BRUSSELS, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- Is Europe divided over Kosovo or not? Most people would not even stop to think of this. Of course Europe's divided. While France and Germany have recognized Kosovo's independence, other EU countries like Spain, Romania and Cyprus have held back. The Scandinavians took the plunge, but only hesitantly. The headlines wrote themselves. "European disunity" blared the newspapers. "What consequences will the divide have?" asked the concerned-looking anchormen.

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush, in a letter Monday to Kosovar President Fatmir Sejdiu, recognized Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she hoped Serbia accepts a resolution regarding Kosovo's independence from Serbia.

BERLIN, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The EU representative to the Kosovo Troika says Russia -- not the United States -- carries the main responsibility for the failure of the Kosovo negotiations.

BERLIN, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- All but one of the European Union's 27 member states are ready to accept Kosovo's independence without a United Nations Security Council resolution, it surfaced Monday after talks in Brussels. The move may lead to further conflicts with Russia.

MUNICH, Germany, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- Serbian and Kosovar leaders Monday began a final attempt to resolve the status of the Serbian breakaway province, but there is little hope for a breakthrough.