Israel, Kosovo establish diplomatic ties; Pristina to open embassy in Jerusalem
Kosovan FM dubs occasion 'a golden page in the history of the people of Kosovo'
Israel and Kosovo officially cemented their agreement to normalize ties on Monday, with the European state to become the first Muslim-majority nation to establish an embassy in Jerusalem.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony, which was slated to take place in Israel, made a little history on the side by establishing diplomatic relations in a live broadcast via Zoom.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi remarked that “We are making history in the relations between Israel and Kosovo. I thank the United States for helping to establish relations with states we have not had ties with in the past. These are relations that are changing the Middle East.”
His Kosovan counterpart, Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla, described the occasion as a “golden page in the history of the people of Kosovo.”
Ashkenazi and Haradinaj-Stublla signed a joint declaration establishing ties in Jerusalem and Pristina respectively, after which the forms were sent via email for the second signatures.
The Israeli minister stated he had approved Kosovo’s “formal request to open an embassy in Jerusalem.”
Kosovo will become only the third country in the world to open an embassy in Israel's capital, after the United States and Guatemala transferred their diplomatic staff.
According to outlet N12, Pristina already has an asset in central Jerusalem which is undergoing renovations ahead of its transition to become the embassy.