Rufije Xhafrei calls herself the happiest person in the world.

"It's like touching your dream with your hands to see your country free," the Stoney Creek resident said regarding Kosovo's declaration of independence.

Ms. Xhafrei, an ethnic Albanian, grew up in Kosovo and moved to Canada in 1991 and to Stoney Creek in 1996.

"When I moved here, my father said, 'I am happy to know someone from my family will be alive,'" she said.

Ms. Xhafrei brought her sisters and brothers to Hamilton in 1999 after NATO's bombing campaign against Serbia.

NATO began air strikes against Serbia on March 14, 1999, to stop what it called a "humanitarian catastrophe" and mass exodus of ethnic Albanians, accusing the Serbian army and police of using excessive force in suppressing an ethnic Albanian rebellion. After NATO's 78-day bombing campaign, Serbian forces pulled out of Kosovo and the province was put under United Nations control, until it declared independence Feb. 17.

It was difficult for Ms. Xhafrei to watch what took place in her birthplace.

"It was the worst thing in my life, seeing my people getting killed, getting massacred when you can't do anything about it," she said.

Serbia has rejected Kosovo's independence as illegal under international law. Serbia has the backing of Russia and China in the UN Security Council.

Canada announced its recognition of Kosovo's independence last week, following the United States, Britain, Germany and other European countries.

"I trust the bigger countries. I feel much more supported," Ms. Xhafrei said.

But not all local citizens from the region are pleased with Canada's position.

The Canadian-Serbian Council says the declaration of independence is against the mandate of the UN Security Council, international law and the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which states Kosovo's final status would be the subject of negotiations.

The council urged Canada not to recognize the February secession. In a statement it said, "The recognition of this act would particularly slow down and disturb the process of EU integration and the reconciliation in the Balkans jeopardizing the fragile peace that has been established there after the war in the nineties."

But Branko Vincic was not surprised with Canada's position.

"They couldn't withstand the pressure from their NATO allies, especially the United States," he said. "I am disappointed, but they had to comply. The might is right. This is the newest rule in the world."

Mr. Vincic, who has lived in Canada since 1968, is a Serb who was born in Croatia. He worries about Serbians in Kosovo.

About 120,000 Serbs remain in Kosovo among two million ethnic Albanians. Kosovo is a tiny, mountainous province in the centre of the Balkans located between Serbia and Albania.

Over the past several centuries, Kosovo has been the battleground for clashing empires. Yet, this province has remained the religious heartland of Serbia's Orthodox Church.

"You fight for your spiritual heartland. We're never going to give it up. We will fight, not through military might, because we don't have it. But time will work in our favour. You have to be very patient," Mr. Vincic said.

"Israel came to be 50 years ago, but that took 2,000 years. But they never lost hope. If you lose your heart, you always hope you're going to get it back."

Jadranka Petrovic, also of Stoney Creek, is not as forgiving of Canada.

"I'm deeply disappointed that Canada swallowed its pride, closed its eyes and ears, not to see or hear the truth and submissively followed the US decision to recognize Kosovo as an independent country," she said.

"I believe that giving the Albanian nationalists another Albania by stealing Serbian land is against any law and can only create much bigger problems in this zone and around the world. Would this be allowed to happen in the US, Germany or Great Britain? Why then, is this allowed to happen in Serbia?"

Mr. Vincic sees Serbia's May 11 elections as crucial.

"Some believe Serbia should sign an agreement with the EU, without mentioning Kosovo and others say they have to recognize Kosovo as an integral part of Serbia," he said.

"The EU is a major trading partner. But it's not good to do business with someone who breaks your country. And Europe needs Serbia as well. If it's a trouble spot, it's not good for Europe."

Serbian President Boris Tadic wants to pursue EU membership even though 18 of its 27 nations have recognized Kosovo's independence. While Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica insists Serbia must not join the EU unless the bloc confirms Kosovo is part of the country.

The independence movement is causing unrest. Last week, riots by Serbs hostile to independence injured 100 people and killed one UN policeman and forced the withdrawal of UN personnel in one Serb-dominated area.

The riots coincided with the four-year anniversary of Albanian riots, in which 19 people were killed and hundreds of Serb homes burned down.

"People think it's just another piece of real estate, but that's not the case," Mr. Vincic says. "You can't understand. How could I understand your attachment to your family, I can't."