Kuwait Recognizes Independent Kosovo

The Gulf state of Kuwait announced Tuesday that it has recognized Kosovo as an independent country and has decided to establish diplomatic ties at ambassadorial level.

"Based on instructions by the emir, the state of Kuwait recognizes Kosovo and will exchange diplomatic representation at the level of ambassadors," an official statement said following a meeting by the council of ministers, as cited by The Times of Oman.

Kuwait's cabinet asked the foreign ministry to take the necessary measures to implement the decision.

Kuwait's Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partners Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman have already recognized Kosovo.

The announcement comes just as Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah hosted a luncheon on Tuesday in honor of Kosovo's visiting Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj and his accompanying delegation, the Kuwait News Agency KUNA.

Earlier reports said that Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah had told Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci during a meeting on the sideline of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) that Kuwait planned to recognize Kosovo. This was confirmed in Kosovo's capital Prishtina over the weekend during a visit of Kuwait's National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Karafi in a joint press conference with Kosovo Parliament Speaker Jakup Krasniqi.

Kuwait has become the 85th sovereign state to recognize the independence of Kosovo. Major non-recognizers of Kosovo's independence include Russia, China, Serbia, Iran, Israel, and five EU member states – Spain, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Cyprus.

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