Kosovo–United Kingdom relations

Kosovan–British relations are foreign relations between Kosovo[a] and the United Kingdom. When Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008, the United Kingdom became one of the first countries to announce the official recognition of a sovereign Kosovo on 18 February 2008.[1][2] The United Kingdom has had an embassy in Pristina since 5 March 2008.[3] Kosovo has had an embassy in London since 1 October 2008. The two countries have very good and friendly relations.

Kosovan–British relations

Kosovo
United Kingdom
Kosovan embassy in London, United Kingdom.

Military

The United Kingdom participated in the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, which resulted in a UN administration of Kosovo. The United Kingdom currently has 84 troops serving in Kosovo as peacekeepers in the NATO led Kosovo Force. Originally there were 19,000 British troops in KFOR.[4] Mike Jackson was the first KFOR Commander from 12 June 1999 until 8 October 1999.

On 25 April 2008, the British Government announced that it would send a battle-group based on 2 Rifles, a light infantry battalion of about 600 soldiers, to help maintain public order to serve as Peacekeepers in EULEX, an EU Police, Civilian and Law Mission in Kosovo.[5]

Political

The United Kingdom was an important player in the events of 1999. The Kosovo War, which Prime Minister Tony Blair had advocated on moral grounds, was initially a failure when it relied solely on air strikes; he believed that the threat of a ground offensive, which Bill Clinton had initially ruled out, was necessary to convince Serbia's President Slobodan Milošević to withdraw. Blair ordered that 50,000 soldiers - most of the available British Army - should be made ready for action.[6] Blair has visited Kosovo on several occasions since; other British Ministers who have had ministerial responsibility for policy towards Kosovo, such as Dennis MacShane, have also maintained their connections.

Notes
a.   ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008. Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the 2013 Brussels Agreement. Kosovo is currently recognized as an independent state by 98 out of the 193 United Nations member states. In total, 113 UN member states recognized Kosovo at some point, of which 15 later withdrew their recognition.

See also

References
  1. "UK to recognise independent Kosovo - PM". United Kingdom Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 2008-02-18. Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  2. Nicholas Kulish and C. J. Chivers (2008-02-19). "Kosovo Is Recognized but Rebuked by Others". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  3. "British Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  4. "Kosovo Force (KFOR)" www.nato.int Link accessed 21-07-09
  5. "New mission for British troops in Kosovo" guardian.co.uk 25 April Link Added 25 April 2008
  6. Marr, Andrew; A History of Modern Britain (2008 printing); page 550


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