International recognition of Kosovo

The international reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence followed the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo's Parliament from Serbia, carried out on 17 February 2008 by a unanimous 109 for to 0 against vote, with all 11 representatives of the Serb minority boycotting the proceedings. The act proclaimed the Republic of Kosovo. Concurrently, letters were sent to all the world's governments, soliciting recognition. Accordingly, on 27 February 2008, Germany became the first country to formalise its recognition of Kosovo by renaming its diplomatic office in Prishtina as an embassy and on 8 March 2008, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt became the first foreign minister to officially visit Kosovo since it declared its independence.

As of 28 March 2008, 36 out of 192 sovereign United Nations member states have formally recognised the Republic of Kosovo. Notably, a majority of European Union member states have formally recognised Kosovo (18 of 27); EU member states decide individually whether to recognise Kosovo, whereas the EU has commissioned the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) to ensure peace and continued external oversight.

Some 25 UN member states have either officially declined to extend their recognition, or are unlikely to do so, and several states have expressed concern over the unilateral character of Kosovo's declaration. The UN Security Council remains divided on this issue: of its five members with veto power, three (the United States, United Kingdom, France) have recognised the declaration of independence, while the People's Republic of China has expressed concern, urging the continuation of previous negotiation framework. Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the declaration as illegal.

Of Kosovo's neighbour states other than Serbia, Albania has recognised its declaration of independence, while Montenegro is still uncommitted. As for the Republic of Macedonia, it has broached the outstanding issue of border demarcation between it and Kosovo, now raised with the new Prishtina government and previously negotiated with the government in Belgrade. The Joint Macedonian-Kosovar Commission on Border Demarcation began operating on 25 March 2008 in Skopje, and on 30 March 2007, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia website's Media Center published a press release with the following content concerning Kosovo: "in the context of the resolution of the future Kosovo issue, Minister Milososki reiterated that the Republic of Macedonia supports the proposal by Special Envoy Ahtisaari, and the unison EU position on this issue."

States which formally recognise Kosovo as independent

Map of states that have recognised Kosovo independence

  Kosovo

  States which formally recognise Kosovo as an independent state

  Other states

UN member states

	Country	Date of recognition	Status of reciprocal diplomatic missions	Notes
1	Afghanistan	2008-02-18		First country to recognise Kosovo based on UTC
2	Costa Rica	2008-02-18 (17 February 2008 local time)		non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the time of the declaration of independence
3	Albania	2008-02-18	Embassy of Albania in Prishtina from 19 February 2008 Embassy of Kosovo in Tirana from 22 February 2008	North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) candidate country
4	France	2008-02-18		permanent member of the UNSC European Union (EU) member state NATO member state
5	Turkey	2008-02-18		NATO member state EU candidate country
6	United States	2008-02-18	US Office Prishtina, Kosovo	permanent member of the UNSC NATO member state
7	United Kingdom	2008-02-18	Embassy of Great Britain in Prishtina from 5 March 2008	permanent member of the UNSC EU member state NATO member state
8	Australia	2008-02-19
9	Senegal	2008-02-19
10	Latvia	2008-02-20		EU member state NATO member state
11	Malaysia	2008-02-20	Liaison Office of Malaysia, Prishtina
12	Germany	2008-02-20	Embassy of Germany in Prishtina from 27 February 2008	EU member state NATO member state
13	Estonia	2008-02-21		EU member state NATO member state
14	Italy	2008-02-21	Italian Office in Prishtina	EU member state non-permanent member of the UNSC at the time of the declaration of independence NATO member state
15	Denmark	2008-02-21		EU member state NATO member state
16	Luxembourg	2008-02-21		EU member state NATO member state
17	Peru	2008-02-22
18	Belgium	2008-02-24	Liaison Office of Belgium in Prishtina	EU member state non-permanent member of the UNSC at the time of the declaration of independence NATO member state
19	Poland	2008-02-26		EU member state NATO member state
20	Switzerland	2008-02-27	Embassy of Switzerland in Prishtina from 28 March 2008
21	Austria	2008-02-28	Embassy of Austria in Prishtina from 20 March 2008	EU member state
22	Ireland	2008-02-29		EU member state
23	Sweden	2008-03-04	Liaison Office of Sweden in Prishtina, subordinate to the Embassy in Skopje, Macedonia	EU member state
24	Netherlands	2008-03-04		EU member state NATO member state
25	Iceland	2008-03-05		NATO member state
26	Slovenia	2008-03-05	Mission of Slovenia in Prishtina	EU member state President country of Council of the European Union at the time of declaration NATO member state
27	Finland	2008-03-07	Liaison Office of Finland in Prishtina	EU member state
28	Japan	2008-03-18
29	Canada	2008-03-18		NATO member state
30	Monaco	2008-03-19
31	Hungary	2008-03-19		EU member state NATO member state
32	Croatia	2008-03-19	Liaison Office of Croatia in Prishtina	EU candidate country NATO candidate country non-permanent member of the UNSC at the time of the declaration of independence
33	Bulgaria	2008-03-20		EU member state NATO member state
34	Liechtenstein	2008-03-25	Liechtenstein's interests are represented by the Swiss embassy
35	South Korea	2008-03-28
36	Norway	2008-03-28		NATO member state

Other states

	Entity	Notes
1	Republic of China (Taiwan)	The Republic of China (Taiwan), which has official diplomatic relations with 23 states, recognised Kosovo on February 18 2008. Kosovo may not necessarily recognise the Republic of China in return. A spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Kosovo avoided reciprocating recognition, saying that the People's Republic of China is a very important country with which Kosovo would like to establish a diplomatic relationship.

States which are about to formally recognise Kosovo

Country	Evidence	International organisations membership
Lithuania	On 18 February 2008 the President initiated parliamentary proceedings at the Seimas. Parliament (Seimas): Foreign relations committee unanimous approval on 22 February 2008. Parliament decision: Pending	EU member state NATO member state
North Macedonia	On 30 March 2007, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia website's Media Center published a press release with the following content concerning Kosovo: "in the context of the resolution of the future Kosovo issue, Minister Milososki reiterated that the Republic of Macedonia supports the proposal by Special Envoy Ahtisaari, and the unison EU position on this issue."

States which do not recognise Kosovo or have yet to decide

UN member states

Country	Evidence	International organisations membership
Algeria	Mourad Medelci, Foreign Affairs Minister, said that "although Algeria sympathises with all Muslim countries, we cannot yet recognise Kosovo as an independent state. There are international laws and they must be respected. We are following the situation very closely".
Argentina	Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana said "if we were to recognise Kosovo, which has declared its independence unilaterally, without an agreement with Serbia, we would set a dangerous precedent that would seriously threaten our chances of a political settlement in the case of the Falkland Islands". He said that President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner would not give any official statement on the issue, reiterating that there would be no recognition of Kosovo. Argentina will not recognize also because it "supports the principle of territorial integrity". Additionally, he stressed that the 1999 UN Resolution 1244 called for the mutual agreement of all parties to solve the dispute.
Armenia	"Armenia's possible recognition of Kosovo's independence will not strain the Armenian-Russian relations", Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh Sargsyan said. "The Kosovo recognition issue needs serious discussion ... Armenia has always been an adherent to the right of nations to self-determination and in this aspect we welcome Kosovo's independence."
Azerbaijan	"We view this illegal act as being in contradiction with international law. Proceeding from this, Azerbaijan's position is clear: it does not recognise [Kosovo's] independence," said Khazar Ibrahim, head of the press service at Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry. Azerbaijan has withdrawn peacekeepers from Kosovo - "Owing to the change of situation in Kosovo, the Azeri peacekeeping battalion performing its mission within the Turkish contingent will be withdrawn. Azerbaijan acts in compliance with the country's political stance", stated Zahid Oruj, member of the parliamentary committee on defence and security. At the summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference on March 10, Azerbaijan opposed adoption of the document, proposed by Turkey, that would lend support to Kosovo's declaration of independence.
Bangladesh	On 18 February 2008, when asked about possible recognition of independent Kosovo, a spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "The interests of the people of Kosovo have always been close to Bangladeshi hearts, and we are proud to have contributed to the stability of that region through our peace-keepers. We are following the issue very closely with like-minded countries, and also the relevant on-going Security Council deliberations at the UN. Decisions on matters such as this are always taken on the basis of perceived national self interest, the moral questions involved, and the realities on the ground, as will be the case in this respect".
Belarus	The National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus (the national parliament) has issued a statement condemning the declaration of independence and encouraged all nations to call the move "illegal" under international law. President Alexander Lukashenko wrote in a letter to President Boris Tadić that "Belarus expresses its solidarity with the Serbians' intention to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity".
Bolivia	President Evo Morales refused to recognise Kosovo's independence and compared Kosovo separatists to the leaders of four eastern Bolivian states who have demanded greater autonomy from the federal government.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	On 21 March 2008, Bosnia's Security Minister Tarik Sadović said in Ohrid on the subject of Bosnia and Herzegovina recognising Kosovo: "BiH's state policy is quite moderate and restrained. In Bosnia a third of the citizens are of Serbian nationality and due to the sensitivity of this issue, we've decided not to rush things. We'll wait for the right moment and we are willing to reach a political consensus on the issue in BiH. The European community and our neighbours understand our stance." On 25 March 2008 Prime Minister Nikola Špirić, when asked whether Bosnia-Herzegovina would recognize Kosovo's independence soon, said the Kosovo issue was a serious and complicated matter and Bosnia and Herzegovina desired to be affected by the issue at a minimum level. A month earlier, Nebojša Radmanović, the Serb member of the rotating tripartite presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina will not recognise Kosovo's independence and called Kosovo an internal matter of Serbia. Željko Komšić, the Croat member of the presidency, who was presiding until 7 March 2008, had stated at about the same time that "Bosnia will not recognize Kosovo soon". The presiding Bosniak member of the presidency, Haris Silajdžić, the last Bosnian war-time politician who still actively impacts public life, said in an interview with a Turkish paper hours after taking office on 7 March 2008 that his country is "unlikely to recognize Kosovo's independence any time soon due to strong objections from its own Serbian community".
Brazil	The Brazilian government will recognise the independence of Kosovo only if Serbia does. The Brazilian government reaffirms its belief that a peaceful solution for the issue of Kosovo must continue to be sought through dialogue and negotiation, under the auspices of the United Nations and the legal framework of Resolution 1244 of the Council Security. In his recent declarations, the Minister of Foreign Relations Celso Amorim defended that Brazil should await a UN Security Council decision before defining its official position on the matter of Kosovo's independence.
Burkina Faso	Burkina Faso said it would take note of the new situation and stated that it hopes that violence would not erupt.	non-permanent member of the UNSC at the time of the declaration of independence
Chile	In a 27 February 2008 press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile called on the parties concerned to achieve, by peaceable means, through dialogue and adherence to the international law, a solution that respects the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter. Chile will continue to analyse the discussions that have taken and are taking place, both in the UN Security Council, and in the Council of Ministers of the European Union.
People's Republic of China	The Chinese Foreign Minister has made a statement stressing that the PRC "expresses grave concern" over Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. The Minister's remarks go on to add that "The resolution of the Kosovo issue bears on peace and stability of the Balkan region, the fundamental norms governing international relations as well as the authority and role of the UN Security Council. China always believes that a plan acceptable to both Serbia and Kosovo through negotiations is the best way to resolve this issue", that "the unilateral move taken by Kosovo will lead to a series of consequences. China is deeply worried about its severe and negative impact on peace and stability of the Balkan region and the goal of establishing a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo", stressing that "China calls upon Serbia and Kosovo to continue negotiations for a proper resolution within the framework of the international law and work together to safeguard peace and stability of the Balkan region", and adding that "the international community should create favourable conditions for that".	permanent member of the UNSC
Colombia	Doing a "careful" analysis.
Cuba	In a newspaper article, ex-President Fidel Castro attacked Javier Solana accusing him of being the ideological father of Kosovo's independence. To Fidel Castro, Javier Solana is the synthesis of pure unreasonableness and injustice, as Kosovo's independence might create a precedent for Catalonia's independece, or that of the Basque Country. Fidel Castro spoke in its capacity as a newly elected advisor on foreign policy to the new President Raúl Castro, a position unanimously approved by the National Assembly of Cuba.
Cyprus	Then Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, of the Papadopoulos administration, stated "Cyprus will never recognise a unilateral declaration of independence outside the U.N. framework, and in particular by side-stepping the role of the Security Council". Newly elected President Dimitris Christofias has confirmed that Cyprus would not recognise Kosovo as an independent country, out of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia. Christofias reiterated his opposition to recognition in an interview with a Russian newspaper, saying, "The one thing that Kosovo and Cyprus have in common, as far as the situation in these regions is concerned, is that in both cases, the basic principles of international law and legality, as well as UN decisions, are constantly being violated". The Cypriot president underlined that the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of both Serbia and the Republic of Cyprus were being violated in the most brutal manner.	EU member state
Czech Republic	On April 2, Czech Government has postponed a decision on Kosovo. Recognition is supported by the Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, and the European Affairs Minister Alexandr Vondra but President Václav Klaus, a part of the ruling Civic Democratic Party party, coalition partners Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party, the opposition Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia and the Czech Social Democratic Party oppose it.	EU member state NATO member state
Egypt	A Foreign Ministry spokesman urged the parties to abide by international law and support regional stability, but did not say whether Egypt recognises Kosovo. At the summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference on 10 March 2008, Egypt opposed adoption of the document, proposed by Turkey, that would lend support to Kosovo's declaration of independence.
Georgia	Foreign Minister of Georgia, Davit Bakradze, said on 18 February 2008 that Tbilisi would not recognise Kosovo's independence, adding: "I think everyone in Georgia, regardless of political orientation, is unanimous on this".
Greece	On 20 March 2008, Greece's Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said while visiting Tirana: "We are extremely keen to preserve peace and stability in the region. As you know, Greece has troops within KFOR. It is our firm belief that the EU's political mission should be there in Kosovo and we will also joint that mission. But, a decision on the recognition of Kosovo has not been made yet". Earlier, on 18 February 2008, she issued the following formal statement: "As regards the issue of recognition of the new state of affairs – which can in no way serve as a precedent – Greece will take its decisions at a coming stage, when it has examined all of the developments in depth; all of the dimensions and consequences these developments have for regional security and Greece's interests. Within this framework, we will continue to work closely with our European partners and our neighbouring countries, bearing in mind the special role Serbia has in maintaining regional equilibrium and stability". On March 24, Deputy Foreign Minister Yannis Valinakis reiterated Greece's position in favour of achieving consensual and mutually acceptable solutions based on respect for international law, as a matter of principle. He said "Our positions are known. We support, if we are talking about Kosovo, the achievement of mutually acceptable solutions. Solutions that are found through dialogue and, of course, we will make our decisions at the proper time". President Karolos Papoulias said that "a solution for the future status of Kosovo must be mutually acceptable to both sides and in accordance with international rules and the UN charter" and that "the international community should allow as much time as necessary in order to achieve this".	EU member state NATO member state
India	"We have taken note of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Kosovo. There are several legal issues involved in this Declaration. We are studying the evolving situation." "It has been India's consistent position that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be fully respected by all states. We have believed that the Kosovo issue should have been resolved through peaceful means and through consultation and dialogue between the concerned parties."
Indonesia	19 February 2008 Foreign Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo said that the Indonesian government will closely observe developments in Kosovo and is not yet in a position to give its recognition to the unilaterally declared independence. The issue will be debated in parliament among the Indonesian parties. At the summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference on 10 March 2008, Indonesia opposed adoption of the document, proposed by Turkey, that would lend support to Kosovo's declaration of independence. On March 27, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, stated that Indonesia does not see Kosovo as a religious, but as an ethnic and political problem as well as the question of principle of respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of a UN member. He said that "Indonesia supports a solution to the Kosovo problem with peaceful means, through dialogue and negotiations", and added that "Indonesia supports Serbia’s idea that the UN General Assembly asks for opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legality of declaration of independence by Kosovo".	non-permanent member of the UNSC at the time of the declaration of independence
Iraq	During a visit with the Serbian Ambassador, Iraqi Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Labeed Abbawi stated Iraq's support for UN principles regarding non-interference in internal affairs and the rights of minorities.
Iran	On February 24, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that Iran is studying the situation and would make a decision in due course. In early March, Golamreza Ansari, Iranian Ambassador to Russia, said that "this question has very important aspects. Frankly speaking, the United Nations divided one of its members into two parts, though Article 1244 confirms the territorial integrity of Serbia. This is a very strange event. We think that some countries try to weaken international organisations. Presently, Iran is studying the question of Kosovo's future. Iran expresses its concern over the weakening of international organizations". On March 13, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran, after considering the region's issues and conditions, had not recognized the independence of Kosovo.
Israel	"We haven't decided when we're going to decide, and instead will monitor events and consider the issue," an Israeli Foreign Ministry official said. Israel will not recognize Kosovo's independence at this time, in part because of the possibility of Palestinians using recognition of Kosovo to justify their own unilateral declaration of independence. Foreign Ministry officials and politicians are privately voicing a general sympathy towards the Kosovar cause.
Jordan	Awaiting the United Nations Security Council's decision.
Kazakhstan	A Kazakh foreign ministry spokesperson said that Kazakhstan opposes Kosovo's unilateral proclamation of independence. Kazakhstan insists the Kosovo issue should be solved peacefully in accordance with UN principles on national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the spokesperson said.
Kuwait	Kuwait's ambassador to Russia said that his country "hopes that all participants of this discussion will listen to a voice of reason and will find the conciliatory proposal".
Kyrgyzstan	Kyrgyzstan will not recognise Kosovo's independence and considers it a dangerous precedent for separatist organizations in the world.
Laos	A Foreign Ministry statement of 27 February 2008 stated: "The Lao PDR urged all sides to respect the resolution of the UN Security Council No 1244, dated June 10, 1999, recognizing Kosovo as a Serbian province".
Libya	Abdulhati Al Obeidi, Secretary for European Affairs of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, after meeting with the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremić on 17 March 2008, stated that Libya will not recognise a unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo. Al Obeidi said that Libya strongly supports the position of Serbia regarding Kosovo, despite the pressure from the European Union and some Islamic nations to recognise, and that Libya considers the unilateral declaration of independence illegal. Al Obeidi stated that Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi considers the UN Security Council to be the only place where the Kosovo problem can be solved the right way..	non-permanent member of the UNSC at the time of the declaration of independence
Mali	Mali's President Amadou Toumani Touré is reported in the press as having expressed the Malian stance on Kosovo as follows: "International norms must be respected, because their abuse and the violation of territorial integrity could threaten a series of countries with a similar problem".
Malta	Malta will make a decision at the opportune time.	EU member state
Mexico	On 19 February 2008 the Foreign Ministry issued a statement: "Our country is closely paying attention to the situation as it develps in order to adopt, at an opportune moment, a position on what took place last Sunday". The same statement calls on all parties to agree peacefully, through dialogue, on the final status of Kosovo and to reach an agreement on the rights of minorities and maintaining peace and security in the Balkans.
Member of the Order of Liberty	Kosovo's declaration creates "deep concerns in the Republic of Moldova," the Moldovan government said in a statement. Moldova will not recognise Kosovo's independence.
Montenegro	On March 22 Prime Minister Milo Đukanović stated he understood emotions in Serbia over Kosovo, though he did not agree with Serbian officials as to the causes of the crisis. He said that Montenegro had to follow its own interests, adding that the government would be led by national interests over the matter, and that it would coordinate its policy with that of the EU.
Morocco	Morocco is reportedly worried about separatists and the secession of ethnic groups within its own territory, but no statement on Kosovo has been sourced as of 19 March 2008.
Mozambique	The Mozambican government has not yet taken a position on whether to recognise Kosovo. The Deputy Foreign Minister said, "It's a very sensitive matter and like all matters of this kind, it demands a lot of thought. Our government will work so that it may make the most appropriate decision in this case". Deputy Foreign Minister Henrique Banze said "We shall wait for the appropriate moment"
New Zealand	"It's never been the New Zealand Government's position to recognise in such circumstances. Over time the way in which we deal with those who govern in the territory will, I suppose, imply whether there is recognition, but we are not intending to make a formal statement," said Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Nicaragua	The chancellor of Nicaragua, Samuel Santos, said that the government of his country maintains a position of "observation" to the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo. "Nicaragua is watching the issue of Kosovo's independence, we have friends who are in agreement with this independence and other friends who disagree, there are some who are saying that [independence] is a threat to peace in that tender area. We just look at [this case and] we have no opinion on this issue."
Pakistan	The Foreign Ministry says that it "support[s] the legitimate aspirations of the Kosovars".
Panama	Panama regrets that Serbia and Kosovo could not come up with a negotiated solution and has no current policy on whether to recognise or not recognise Kosovo's independence.	non-permanent member of the UNSC and Rotating President at the time of the declaration of independence
Paraguay	Paraguay has taken note of the independence declaration and is analyzing the situation.
Philippines	Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo said in a statement: "Considering the existing sensibilities in the region, continued dialogue should be encouraged among all the parties concerned to ensure regional stability".
Portugal	Portuguese Prime Minister José Sócrates has said he will recognise Kosovo in due course but only after consultations with his country's leaders and the president, Aníbal Cavaco Silva. The latter said that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence was "abnormal" and called on his country's government to consider any recognition carefully. The President is worried for the safety of the Portuguese contingent serving in Kosovo..The Assembly of the Republic discussed the issue twice and parties agreed that Portugal should not recognise Kosovo for now because the UN and the EU have not yet reached a consensus position.	EU member state NATO member state
Romania	A joint session of Parliament voted not to recognise Kosovo's independence by 357 to 27. Also the President and the Prime Minister oppose recognition.	EU member state NATO member state
Russia	Russian President Vladimir Putin described the recognition of Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence by several major world powers as "a terrible precedent" that "breaks up the entire system of international relations" that have taken "centuries to evolve", and "undoubtedly, it may entail a whole chain of unpredictable consequences to other regions in the world" that will come back to hit the West "in the face". During an official state visit to Serbia following the declaration, Russian President-elect Dmitry Medvedev reiterated support for Serbia and its stance on Kosovo. Russia has also said that the recent violence in Tibet is linked with the recognition by some states of the independence of Serbia's breakaway province, Kosovo. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in an interview with a Russian newspaper, also linked the demands for greater autonomy by ethnic Albanians in Macedonia with the Kosovo issue. Lavrov said, "There are ground to presume that this is not occurring by chance. You can see what is happening in Tibet, how the separatists there are acting. The Albanians in Macedonia are already demanding a level of autonomy that is a clear step toward independence. Furthermore, events in other areas of the world give us grounds to assume that we are only at the beginning of a very precarious process". On March 23 Vladimir Putin ordered urgent humanitarian aid for Kosovo Serb enclaves. Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, opposed the Russian plan for sending aid to Kosovo Serbs. He stated that Russia could only send aid if it was agreed and coordinated with Government in Prishtina.	permanent member and current Rotating President of the UNSC
San Marino	San Marino will wait for recognition. While San Marino recognises the right to self-determination, it also believes that "the Helsinki Final Act plays an important part of the precious equilibrium".
Serbia	Main article: Serbia's reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence See also: 2008 protests in Serbia Serbia claims Kosovo as part of its sovereign territory. Among its reactions, Serbia recalled its ambassadors from countries which recognised Kosovo, indicted the Kosovar leaders on charges of high treason, and announced plans to litigate the case at the International Court of Justice, as well as seek support at the United Nations General Assembly when it reconvenes in September in New York.
Singapore	On 18 February 2008 the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement through its spokesman regarding Kosovo's declaration of independence: "Singapore is still studying the matter. This is a controversial move that has many complex ramifications around the world. The situation under international law is not clear and the kind of precedent that could be set needs to be carefully assessed. We hope international mediation efforts would continue so that a solution acceptable to all parties can be found".
Slovakia	Prime Minister Robert Fico stated on Slovak television that the declaration of independence is analogous to the Munich Agreement that allowed the Third Reich to annex the Czechoslovak territory of Sudetenland. Foreign Minister Ján Kubiš stated that Slovakia will take four months to arrive at an official position to recognise or not recognize Kosovo's independence. Robert Fico reacted to that calling it "only a technical deadline" and said "I do not exclude the possibility that Slovakia will never recognize Kosovo. Kosovo is not some independent territory, it is an integral part of Serbia where Serbs, and members of the Albanian ethnic minority live.". Fico has also said that the creation of an independent Kosovo was a violation of international law, and added that it would be very difficult for his country to recognize Kosovo. On 10 March 2008 Slovakia's President Ivan Gašparovič said "that Slovakia did not think it was obliged to immediately recognise Kosovo, until it had formed its own position on the consequences of the province's unilateral independence". He was further quoted: "I think some time for reflection is necessary, because Kosovo has given the 21st century a clear signal that it once again has to discuss questions concerning national minorities, their rights and even the revision of territories. For that reason, our decision will not follow quickly." Deputy Prime Minister Dušan Čaplovič said that by declaring independence without Serbian consent, Kosovo broke international law and created a precedent.	EU member state NATO member state
South Africa	South Africa has called for further negotiation between Serbia and Kosovo, in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.	non-permanent member of the UNSC at the time of the declaration of independence
Spain	Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos said that "the Government of Spain will not recognise the unilateral act proclaimed by the assembly of Kosovo [...] We will not recognise because we consider [...] this does not respect international law". He also added that in order for it to be legal, secession requires either an agreement between the parties or a U.N. Security Council resolution.	EU member state NATO member state
Sri Lanka	The Sri Lankan foreign ministry called Kosovo's declaration of independence a violation of the U.N. Charter and emphasised its concern that the act "could set an unmanageable precedent in the conduct of international relations, the established global order of sovereign states and could thus pose a grave threat to international peace and security".
Sudan	At the summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference on 10 March 2008, Sudan opposed adoption of the document, proposed by Turkey, that would lend support to Kosovo's declaration of independence. Other than that, as of 20 March 2008, no statement concerning Kosovo has been sourced for Sudanese government.
Tajikistan	Asomudin Saidov, Foreign Minister, stated that Tajikistan will not recognise Kosovo's independence as it considers it to be the violation of legal norms and a danger for Europe.
Thailand	Awaiting the decision of the United Nations Security Council.
Uganda	The Ugandan government is carefully studying Kosovo's declaration of independence before it makes a decision to recognise it as a state or not.
Ukraine	The President stated that Ukraine's position on the situation is first of all following national interests and international law. He emphasised that Ukraine's position proceeds from the opinion that the decision on recognising Kosovo or not requires timing for most of the world's countries. "We proceed from hope that resources of regulation through talks have not been yet exhausted." The Ministry of Foreign affairs stated that "The multilateral mechanisms, such as EU, OSCE, UN, should play an important role." On the other hand, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee for Foreign Affairs, Oleh Bilorus, said: "Ukraine will back Serbia's stand on Kosovo".
Uruguay	According to unnamed governmental sources quoted in Uruguayan press, Uruguay will not recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence, because doing so would not be in accordance with its required three pillars of recognition: the principle of territorial integrity of states, achieving a solution through dialogue and consensus, and recognition by international organizations.
Uzbekistan	The Uzbek government believes that questions of independence should be decided in the UN assembly. As for Kosovo, Uzbekistan has yet to come up with a final position.
Venezuela	Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez announced that Venezuela does not recognise Kosovo's independence on the grounds that it has been achieved through U.S. pressure and criticised a recent political movement calling out for a more autonomous Zulia state. On March 24 Chavez accused Washington of trying to "weaken Russia" by supporting independence for Kosovo. He called Kosovo's new leader, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, a "terrorist" put in power by the U.S. and noted that the former rebel leader's nom de guerre was "The Snake".
Vietnam	U.N. Ambassador Le Luong Minh "reaffirmed Vietnam policy that the fact that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence is not a correct implementation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 and that will only complicate the situation in Kosovo and the Balkan region".	non-permanent member of the UNSC at the time of the declaration of independence
Zambia	Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, says Zambia has not decided its position on the declaration of Kosovo's independence. Mr. Pande said the government needs more time to analyse the matter.

Other states

Entity	Notes
Vatican City (Holy See)	Pope Benedict XVI said the Vatican called for "prudence and moderation" in Kosovo and Serbia. The Holy See urged politicians in the region to show "a decisive and concrete commitment to ward off extremist reactions and violence", Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi announced. "The Holy Father continues to look with affection at the people of Kosovo and Serbia, is close to them and is praying at this crucial moment of their history," the statement said.
Northern Cyprus	The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is recognised only by Turkey and is an observer of The Organization of the Islamic Conference. President Mehmet Ali Talat has welcomed Kosovo's independence, but the TRNC has not yet decided to recognise Kosovo.
Palestine	Shortly after the declaration, two senior Palestinian officials representing the Mahmoud Abbas West Bank-controlling government, who also are part of the team negotiating with Israel, disagreed on what the Kosovo events implied for Palestine. Yasser Abed Rabbo said, "Kosovo is not better than us. We deserve independence even before Kosovo, and we ask for the backing of the United States and the European Union for our independence. If things are not going in the direction of continuous and serious negotiations, then we should take the step and announce our independence unilaterally". Saeb Erekat responded that the Palestine Liberation Organization had already declared independence in 1988. "Now we need real independence, not a declaration," said Erekat, "We need real independence by ending the occupation. We are not Kosovo. We are under Israeli occupation and for independence we need to acquire independence".
Western Sahara	The Polisario Front, which governs the partially recognised (by 45 states) Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, has stated that the speedy recognition of Kosovo's independence by many countries shows the double standards of the international community, considering that the Western Sahara issue remains unsolved after three decades.

Regions striving for more autonomy or independence

Entity	Notes
Abkhazia	President Sergey Bagapsh of the non-recognised Republic of Abkhazia regards "the promotion of Kosovo by the U.S.A. and some European states towards the declaration of independence as a visible demonstration of the policy of double standards". The Sukhumi government controls most of the former Abkhazian ASSR, which was part of the former Soviet Georgia. "Why does not the world community put any attention to the violent actions against ethnic minorities living in Kosovo..., the lack of interethnic reconciliation ...", Sergey Bagapsh notes. "We are solidly convinced of the fact that [now] we have got even wider moral base for the recognision of our independence."
Chechen Republic of Ichkeria	Usman Ferzauli, the Foreign Minister of the Chechen government in exile, said that the rebels "welcome the declaration of state independence by Kosovo and do not question the right of the people of Kosovo to distance themselves from the state that terrorised it".
Kashmir	On 11 March 2008 the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front staged a demonstration in Brussels in front of the European Union Commission building. It was headed by one of its leaders, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo, and its agenda cited Kosovo's independence, demanding equal treatment and commensurate application of the same solution by the EU in the Kashmir dispute involving India, Pakistan and China. Protesters included EU Parliament members, students and various NGO constituents and representatives. The nationalist-minded JKLF is part of the 26-entity political and religious coalition All Parties Hurriyat Conference. One of its leaders, Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, addressing the 7th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, "appealed to the world body to impress upon India to allow international delegations to visit the occupied territory to take stock of the human rights situation".
Kurdistan	The Kurdish newspapers announced that many people welcomed Kosovo's independence from Serbia.
Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (Crimea in Ukraine)	Mustafa Cemilev, the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People supported the right of self-determination for every nation, including Kosovo. He also added that the Crimean Tatars, of which he is leader, will not start a secession process from Ukraine if their rights are respected. Cemilev thinks that the motive for the Kosovars to declare independence was the anti-Albanian situation in Kosovo.
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic	Georgiy Petrosyan, minister of foreign affairs of the non-recognized, de facto independent Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, does not regard the conflict between his motherland and Azerbaijan, and the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia as completely similar. He noted that "approaches and solutions, which have recommended themselves while regulating one problem, can be used when looking for a solution to another one". Petrosyan stated that "the recognision of independent Kosovo will become an additional factor strengthening the status of [the] Stepanakert government" that he represents.
Republika Srpska	Republika Srpska, one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has adopted a resolution through which it denounces and refuses to recognise the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo from Serbia. In addition, the parliament has adopted a resolution which states that in the event that a majority of EU and UN states recognise Kosovo's independence, Republika Srpska will cite the Kosovo secession as a precedent and move to hold a referendum on its own constitutional status within Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finally, the resolution calls upon all Republika Srpska officials to do everything in order to prevent Bosnia and Herzegovina from recognising Kosovo's declared independence.
South Ossetia	President Eduard Kokoity of the non-recognized, Russian-supported Republic of South Ossetia regards his motherland to "have complete political and lawful bases for getting recognition" to its independence, if Kosovo has this. The Tskhinvali government which Eduard Kokoity represents controls most of the former South Ossetian AO which was included into the former Soviet Georgia.
File:Flag of Tamil Eelam.png Tamil Eelam	IRNA, the Islamic Republic News Agency, quoted sources reflecting the view of the Tamil movement that it hailed the independence of Kosovo. "According to IANS, the Colombo-based radical Tamil daily Sudar Oli in its editorial said it was not surprising that the Sri Lankan government was the first to condemn Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence (UDI)". The view of the Tamil movement is that "Kosovo's independence is a historical necessity, an unavoidable event" and that "Kosovo shows that the chains of oppression will not last and that some day, they will break".
Transnistria	Transnistria, a de-facto independent, but internationally unrecognised republic which seceded from Moldova in 1990, has no policy towards Kosovo, but the Foreign Ministry has said that "The declaration and recognition of Kosovo are of fundamental importance, since thereby a new conflict settlement model has been established, based on the priority of people's right to self-determination. Pridnestrovie (Transnistria) holds that this model should be applicable to all similar political, legal, and economic bases".
West Papua (Western New Guinea)	Richard Samuelson, Co-Director of the Free West Papua Campaign, based in Oxford, published a letter questioning Sir John Sawers, UK Ambassador to the UN, pointing out that his official speech at the UN advocating and motivating Kosovo's independence is completely congruent point for point with advocating and motivating West Papua's independence from Indonesia, on which the UK has been silent.

Other relevant entities

International governmental organisations

International organisation	Notes
UN	Russia called an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on 17 February, but the council members, given differences in stated position between permanent members, failed to reach a consensus. Russia requested another meeting on 18 February. With Russia stating its intention to use its veto to prevent any recognition by the United Nations, Kosovo has no current prospects for membership. The UN has told Serbia to cease its interference in Kosovo. Member states (36 / 192) It is expected that Russia's refusal to recognise Kosovo will prevent Kosovo from attaining a seat at the UN, as Russia is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council from which Kosovo will need unanimous approval. Note that China, which has expressed concern, and Britain, France, and the United States, which take the opposite position and recognise Kosovo, also are among the permanent members. There are ten other non-permanent members, four of which have recognised Kosovo already.
EU	The European Union does not possess the legal capacity to diplomatically recognise any state; member states do so individually. The majority of member states have recognised Kosovo. To articulate a common EU policy of either support or opposition to Kosovan independence would require unanimity on the subject from all 27 member states, which does not presently exist. On 18 February, the EU officially stated that it would take note of the resolution of the Kosovo assembly. The EU is sending a EULEX mission to Kosovo, which includes a special representative and 2000 police and judicial personnel. Member states (18 / 27) Candidates (2 / 3) Austria* • Belgium* • Bulgaria* • Cyprus** • Czech Republic • Denmark* • Estonia* • Finland* • France* • Germany* • Greece • Hungary* • Ireland* • Italy* • Latvia* • Lithuania • Luxembourg* • Malta • Netherlands* • Poland* • Portugal • Romania** • Slovakia • Slovenia* • Spain** • Sweden* • United Kingdom* * - Have already accepted Kosovo's independence separately. ** - Have stated they will not recognise Kosovo.
IMF	Kosovo is not a member of the International Monetary Fund. It will have to apply and go through the membership process in order to receive IMF financial support. IMF presently provides technical assistance and monitors the economic development of Kosovo.
NATO	NATO maintains that its ongoing Kosovo Force mission and mandate remain unchanged and continues to operate under the agreement "between KFOR and the Republic of Serbia from June 1999". Member states (19 / 26) Candidates (2 / 3) Belgium* • Bulgaria* • Canada* • Czech Republic • Denmark* • Estonia* • France* • Germany* • Greece • Hungary* • Iceland* • Italy* • Latvia* • Lithuania • Luxembourg* • Netherlands* • Norway* • Poland* • Portugal • Romania** • Slovakia • Slovenia* • Spain** • Turkey* • United Kingdom* • United States* * - Have already accepted Kosovo's independence separately. ** - Have stated they will not recognise Kosovo.
OIC	Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu said "Kosovo has finally declared its independence after a long and determined struggle by its people. As we rejoice this happy result, we declare our solidarity with and support to our brothers and sisters there. The Islamic Umma wishes them success in their new battle awaiting them which is the building of a strong and prosperous a state capable of satisfying of its people". OIC is leaving official recognition to the individual states as some member states, including Azerbaijan, Egypt, Indonesia and Sudan, were firmly against any issuance of such a statement. Member states (5 / 57) Afghanistan* • Albania* • Algeria** • Azerbaijan** • Bahrain • Bangladesh • Benin • Burkina Faso • Brunei • Cameroon • Chad • Comoros • Côte d'Ivoire • Djibouti • Egypt • Gabon • Gambia • Guinea • Guinea-Bissau • Guyana • Indonesia • Iran • Iraq • Jordan • Kuwait • Kazakhstan** • Kyrgyzstan** • Lebanon • Libya** • Maldives • Malaysia* • Mali • Mauritania • Morocco • Mozambique • Niger • Nigeria • Oman • Pakistan • Palestine • Qatar • Saudi Arabia • Senegal* • Sierra Leone • Somalia • Sudan • Suriname • Syria • Tajikistan** • Turkey* • Tunisia • Togo • Turkmenistan • Uganda • Uzbekistan • United Arab Emirates • Yemen * - Have already accepted Kosovo's independence separately. ** - Have stated they will not recognise Kosovo.
OSCE	On February 18 2008, Chairman Ilkka Kanerva stated that each of the 56 members of the OSCE will decide themselves whether or not to recognise Kosovo. The next day, Kanerva and OSCE Minorities Commissioner Knut Vollebæk called for Kosovo's government to vigorously implement agreed-upon frameworks regarding minorities. Serbia has vowed to oppose OSCE membership for Kosovo and is calling for the organisation to condemn the declaration of independence. Member states (28 / 56)

International non-governmental organisations

International organisation

Notes

UNPO

The Hague-based Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, whose members comprise 69 entities seeking self-determination and representation, of which Kosovo (listed as Kosova) is one, issued a statement on 18 February 2008: "for regions in similar conditions, Kosova’s independence represents new hope for the future of their own potential statehood". In the days that followed, several African UNPO members expressed on the internet their own individual secession-minded reactions to Kosovo's independence.

International sports federations

Entity	Notes
International Olympic Committee	A Kosovo Olympic team is unlikely for Beijing, but Kosovo sportsmen may compete under Olympic flag. A Kosova Olympic Committee has been in existence since 1992, which is not recognised by the IOC. On 17 February 2008, the president of the IOC's commission of international relations announced that the IOC is set to recognise Kosovo. A day later, an IOC spokeswoman specified the requirements that Kosovo needs to meet before being recognised by the IOC, most notably it has to be recognised by the United Nations as independent first (a condition not imposed on some Olympic participants such as Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and Palestine).
International Ski Federation	Observer status.
International Table Tennis Federation	Member since 2003. Kosovo is presently participating in the world championships underway in China, its fourth participation in the world championships.
International Handball Federation	Member since 2004.

Religious organisations

Entity	Notes
File:SPC-zastava.jpg Serbian Orthodox Church	In a statement to Glas Javnosti, a Serbian journal, the Bishop Artemije of Ras and Prizren Eparchy (the diocese which covers Kosovo) said: "Kosovo was and will always be Serbian", adding that the independence declaration is "a temporary state of occupation", and that "Serbia must buy arms from Russia and other countries, and ask Russia to send volunteers and build a military presence in Serbia". Acting Head of the Church Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral Amfilohije Radović has subsequently urgently criticised Kosovo's declaration of independence, followed by Patriarch Paul.
Other Orthodox Churches	Support Serbia. No Orthodox Church has voiced their support for Kosovo's independence.
Roman Catholic Church	Pope Benedict XVI said the Vatican called for "prudence and moderation" in Kosovo and Serbia. A statement by Vatican spokesman, Father Federico Lombardi, announced that "The Holy Father continues to look with affection at the people of Kosovo and Serbia, is close to them and is praying at this crucial moment of their history."

Political parties

Entity	Notes
Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians (Serbia)	Officials of ethnic Hungarians living in Serbia have expressed concerns about Hungary's decision to recognize Kosovo, saying it could lead to revenge attacks against them by those opposing Kosovo's independence. "It's an obvious fact. Let me tell you if somebody is living as a minority in his own homeland, but still not in his own motherland, this is a danger one always has to reckon with," said István Pásztor, the party president.
Basque Nationalist Party	Although the PNV (conservative nationalism) spokeswoman Miren Azkarate referred to Kosovo's secession process as a pacifistic and democratic example of how a problem of national identity can be solved, left-wing independentists have considered Kosovo's independence as fascist, fake and reactionary.
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania	At a government sponsered conference held in Budapest on ethnic minorities, one of the proposals was to ensure that other areas in Europe will not follow Kosovo's example by promoting more rights and autonomy for the millions of ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring countries. The deputy leader of the RMDSZ, Attila Varga, agreed with the proposal, saying, "I believe the major learning [of Kosovo's independence] is that minorities should be granted autonomy together with rights to avoid a situation like we had in Kosovo, where violence was applied."
New-Flemish Alliance	The Flemish minister for foreign affairs Geert Bourgeois supports both the declaration of independence of Kosovo and the decision of the Belgian federal government to recognise it. Moreover, he has sent a delegation to Prishtina to investigate how Flanders and the State of Kosovo can cooperate in the future.
Parti Québécois	The former governing party of Quebec, the sovereignist Parti Québécois, sent congratulations to the people of Kosovo, echoing its stance in favour of national sovereignty for Quebec. Gilles Duceppe, the leader of the Bloc Québécois, a sovereignist party represented in the Canadian federal parliament, stated that Canada should not hesitate to recognise Kosovo as a country, and that recognition would not set a precedent for Quebec to declare unilateral independence from Canada as "every case is unique". Daniel Turp, the party's international relations critic, said that the recognition sets the stage for Ottawa to eventually recognize an independent Quebec, if sovereignists demonstrate a democratic will to separate. "Canada is recognizing a country, a new country, although the country it was part of disagreed. That is something that is new. We're happy that that has happened," Turp said. Bernard Landry, former Premier of Quebec and party leader, said "Canada, as tradition dictates, did what it had to do. How could it recognize Kosovo ... and say it will not recognize the independence of Quebec? The right of Quebec to independence is clear, and when it's democratically decided, Canada will recognize it, because Canada is a great democracy".
Republican Left of Catalonia	The vice president of the Catalan government and president of the pro-independence party ERC, Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira, sent congratulations to the prime minister of Kosovo because his country had achieved independence and freedom. Also, a popular campaign for recognition of Kosovo as an independent state has been initiated.
Scottish National Party	Aileen Campbell, of the SNP, lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament that congratulated Kosovo on its decision to separate from Serbia.

See also

• List of unrecognised countries
• Controversy over Kosovo independence
• 2008 post-declaration of independence unrest in Kosovo
• List of diplomatic missions in Kosovo
• Diplomatic missions of Kosovo