International recognition of Kosovo

The following is a list of countries that have taken a position on the recognition of the Republic of Kosovo after it declared its independence on 17 February 2008.

The countries which belong to the European Union will most probably not make any single formal decisions before agreeing on the common statement first. However, some of their authorities declared their positions on what this common decision should be. At first, most of them (eg. United Kingdom, Germany and France) declared informally that they will recognise the sovereign Kosovo, facing a quite strong opposition in countries such as Spain or Cyprus, which are also facing the problems of independence movements in their countries or Romania and Slovakia, which are facing the movement of the Hungarian minority for territorial autonomy. However, on the day after the Kosovo declaration of independence most of the formal declarations were to wait for the common decision. Some of the non-EU countries, such as Croatia, Montenegro or Iceland are also waiting for the common EU statement.

The Washington Post reported on February 18, 2008 that formal EU recognition of Kosovo's independence from Serbia would be made quickly under the condition that there will also be "an agreement by Kosovo's leaders to submit to European Union supervision." However, strong opposition from a group of member states (mainly Cyprus and Spain, supported by Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Slovakia) has hindered the adoption of a common EU position on the issue.

Recognision for states

States that recognise independent Kosovo

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Republic of China (Taiwan)
• France
• Italy
• Turkey
• United Kingdom
• United States

States planning on recognising independent Kosovo

  Kosovo

  States which formally recognize Kosovo as independent.

  States which have stated they intend to formally recognize Kosovo as independent.

  States which have stated they will not recognize Kosovo as independent.

  States which have delayed or have expressed neutrality on recognition of Kosovo's independence.

  States with no reported position at present.

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Czech Republic
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• Germany
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Japan
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Pakistan
• Panama
• Poland
• Saudi Arabia
• Sweden
• Switzerland

States that will not recognise the independence of Kosovo

• Azerbaijan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• People's Republic of China
• Cyprus
• Georgia
• Greece
• Kazakhstan
• Member of the Order of Liberty
• Romania
• Russia
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Vietnam

Other states

• Armenia's Prime Minister said in an interview given to Reuters that Armenia will not immediately recognise Nagorno-Karabagh, referring to Armenia's position that it will not immediately recognise Kosovo as well. However he said that "Recognition of Kosovo's independence can be welcomed by us."
• Bangladesh is monitoring the situation in Kosovo. A Government spokesman 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".
• Brazil's Ministry of External Relations announced in a statement that it "is reviewing the situation", "will not hurry to recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence" and "has taken no position so far". Talking to Brazilian journalists on February 17th, 2008, Brazil's Ambassador to Belgrade declared that he had so far received no instructions from the Brazilian Government regarding the declaration of independence, and that, accordingly, for the time being, recognition of Serbia's territorial integrity was Brazil's official position. The Brazilian media suggest that the Government is taking into account the preservation of good relations with Moscow and Belgrade, and that Brazil will not necessarily follow the expected US and EU led stance of recognizing Kosovo's statehood.
• Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko took the side of Russian diplomats and said European states are applying double standards with regards to Kosovo and other regions, such as Transdniester in Moldova. In the statement, no mention is made if Belarus will recognize Kosovo or not.
• Canada has not yet taken a position on Kosovo's independence, and is not expected to move rapidly on the issue. Some analysts consider Canada to be awaiting United Nations approval, given that Kosovo's actions could lend legitimacy to other sub-national regions, such as Quebec, unilaterally declaring independence.
• Czech Republic's Foreign Minister stated that the Czech Republic will consider recognizing Kosovo's independence after it is recognised by most European states, depending on behaviour of Kosovar authorities.
• Egypt's Foreign Ministry spokesman urged the parties to abide by international law and support regional stability, but did not say whether Egypt recognises Kosovo.
• India has not yet announced a formal position but is unlikely to recognise Kosovo.
• Indonesia Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo said on Sunday night that The Indonesian government will observe closely developments in Kosovo and is not yet in a position to give its recognition to the unilaterally declared independence.
• Iceland's Foreign Minister, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir has said that it would not be wise for Iceland to be among the first nations to recognise the independence of Kosovo.
• Israel will not recognise Kosovo immediately.
• North Macedonia, itself with a sizable Albanian minority, will most likely await the European Union's decision.
• Malta is awaiting the United Nations Security Council's decision.
• Montenegro is awaiting the European Union's decision.
• Netherlands minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Verhagen said in response to Kosovo's declaration of independence that, although we face a "new reality", the Netherlands government will not hurry recognition.
• New Zealand "will neither recognise nor not recognise," according to PM Helen Clark.
• Norway will spend the next few days considering its relations with Kosovo. An official press release did not mention the word "recognition".
• Portugal is awaiting the United Nations Security Council's decision.
• South Africa issued a statement saying that it is discussing implications of Kosovo developments.
• Singapore is still studying Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia. A spokesman of the Foreign Ministry dubbed the declaration of independence as a "controversial move that has many complex ramifications around the world".
• Slovenia, the current holder of the rotating Presidency of the European Union, urged other nations to act diplomatically and without violence.
• South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade released a statement that it "hopes for peace and stability in the region ... [is] looking into this issue while comprehensively considering the current situation there...". Given the wide degree of support for independence from key Korean allies, for instance, the United States, Germany and France, it is likely that the Korean government will recognise the republic and establish diplomatic relations. However, with a change in administration in Korea, strong bilateral ties with Belgrade and the influence of Russia and China, important regional partners, it is equally likely that recognition will be delayed or simply remain tacit in deference to the delicate political situation.
• Sweden said it will not be one of the first EU countries to recognise Kosovo. There will be no formal decision of recognition (i.e. to establish diplomatic relations) before the next parliamentary foreign policy committee meeting due on March 4.
• Ukraine's Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko stated that Ukraine has not yet taken a position on the issue, and that its decision might not coincide with that of the European Union's.
• Vatican City urged Serbia and Kosovo to approach the situation with "prudence and moderation" and that Pope Benedict XVI would be praying for them at "this crucial moment in their history."

International organisations

• UN: Russia called an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on 17 February, but the council members failed to reach a consensus. Russia has requested another meeting on 18 February.
• EU: European Union foreign ministers met on Monday, 18 February, to discuss Kosovo's secession. Swift recognition is expected from some of its member states and the Washington Post is reporting that formal EU recognition of Kosovo's independence from Serbia will be made quickly under the condition that there will also be "an agreement by Kosovo's leaders to submit to European Union supervision." However, due to strong opposition from a group of member states (mainly Cyprus and Spain, supported by Greece, Romania and Slovakia) hindered the adoption of a common EU position on the issue.
• The International Olympic Committee has said it will recognise Kosovo, although they expressed doubt it would be able to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
• File:Flag of NATO.jpg 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."
• File:Flag of OIC.svg The Organization of the Islamic Conference said in a statement that "the Islamic umma (nation) wishes the people of Kosovo and its government success in their new struggle to build a strong and prosperous country."

Other entities

• 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 independence declaration will be "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 criticized Kosovo's declaration of independence.
• The Crown Council of The Royal House of Serbia and Yugoslavia rejected Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, saying that: "Europe had diminished its own morale, embarassed its own history and shown that it carries within its organism the virus of its own downfall," and that "it is a defeat of the idea of democracy," ... "a defeat of the universally accepted rules of international law," and that a "part of the project of Mussolini and Hitler has finally been accomplished, in the territory of Serbia".
• The European United Left–Nordic Green Left political group in the European Parliament claim that Kosovo's independence is in conflict with resolutions of the UN Security Council and that secession from Serbia is against international law. A spokesman for the group says that the Kosovo's secession could open Pandora's box and that, "This danger applies in particular to countries where there are what are known as 'frozen conflicts', such as Georgia, Russia, Armenia, Moldova and Cyprus. So today's decision sets a dangerous precedent that should be the subject of criticism from the international community."
• Chechen Republic of Ichkeria: Usman Ferzauli, the Foreign Minister of the separatist group, said that Chechen 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 terrorized it".
• The Parti Québécois, a nationalist party in Quebec, Canada, sent congratulations to the people of Kosovo, echoing the party's stance which advocates national sovereignty for Québec.
• Northern Cyprus