The United States and Slovakia are pledging to work together to help Balkan countries despite disagreement over Kosovo.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Slovakian Foreign Minister Mikulas Dzurinda said in Washington Tuesday that they are united on helping Balkan countries integrate into Europe.

Slovakia has resisted U.S. appeals to recognize Kosovo, whose ethnic Albanian population declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and was recognized by the United States and scores of other nations.