 | ||
Foreign relations of Kosovo are accomplished by efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo. The current Foreign Minister of Kosovo is Enver Hoxhaj. Kosovo operates 24 embassies abroad and is host to 22 Embassies. Kosovo has membership in several International Organisations.
Contents
- Status of diplomatic relations
- Membership in international organisations
- Names used to represent Kosovo
- References
On 17 February 2008, members of the Assembly of Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. They were not part of UNMIK's PISG. This move was controversial among the international community. International supervision ended in September 2012, and Kosovo became responsible for its own governance. The Republic of Kosovo has been recognised by 111 UN member states, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Cook Islands, and Niue.
Additionally some countries that don't formally recognise the Republic of Kosovo (China, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Greece) maintain non-diplomatic official "liaison offices" in Kosovo; as does the European Union.
Kosovo maintains a number of diplomatic missions abroad, and several countries have embassies or representative offices in Pristina.
Status of diplomatic relations
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo has initiated the process of establishing diplomatic relations with all states that have recognised Republic of Kosovo, either by opening new missions or through accreditation of non-resident ambassadors to these countries.
The Republic of Kosovo has established diplomatic relations with 85 countries:
Membership in international organisations
Enver Hoxhaj, Kosovo's Minister of Foreign Affairs, has stated that the country is considering making applications for membership in three United Nations specialized agencies in the first half of 2013, and that an application for membership of the Council of Europe in 2014 is being prepared. Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi reiterated the state's desire to join in December 2014. Kosovo is also preparing a membership application for the World Trade Organization. Joining NATO's Partnership for Peace is a priority of the government.
Hoxhaj has said that Kosovo's goal is to be a full UN member state by 2020 and NATO member state by 2022.
Names used to represent Kosovo
Kosovo is represented under the name:
depending on the particular international forum. A list is set out above. The name "Republic of Kosovo" is self-explanatory and is the preferred nomenclature of the Pristina Government. The name "Kosovo*" with an asterisk is used in other fora. Where this name is used, the asterisk is linked to a footnote which reads:
This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
This "Kosovo*" designation was the outcome of an arrangement agreed to between Pristina and Belgrade in talks mediated by the European Union. This arrangement, which has been dubbed the "asterisk agreement" was agreed in an 11-point arrangement agreed on 24 February 2013.
"UNMIK" is an acronmym for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, which has joined several organizations on behalf of Kosovo.