Turkey deplores Kosovo's decision to normalise ties with Israel

Turkey deplores Kosovo's decision to normalise ties with Israel
Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said Kosovo's decision to normalise ties with Israel is 'against international law'.
2 min read
04 February, 2021
Kosovo and Israel have normalised ties [Getty]
Turkey on Wednesday slammed Kosovo for its decision to establish diplomatic ties with Israel and open an embassy in Jerusalem.

Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said Pristina's decision "is against international law, including the United Nations resolutions adopted on this issue".

"It is clear that any step towards this direction will not serve the Palestinian cause and undermine the vision of a two-state solution," he added.

Kosovo’s foreign minister said on Friday that a formal ceremony will be held next week to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, a "historic moment" in the Balkan country's history.

"Recognition by Israel is one of the greatest achievements for Kosovo, coming at a key moment for us, thanks to the United States of America, our common and eternal ally," she said.

Read also: Kosovo president resigns to face war crimes charges

Meliza Haradinaj-Stublla and her Israeli counterpart Gabriel Ashkenazi held a virtual ceremony on Monday.

In exchange for setting up its mission in Jerusalem, Kosovo gets recognition from Israel, as it seeks to further legitimise its 2008 declaration of independence from its former war foe Serbia.

Haradinaj-Stublla, thanked Israel for becoming the 117th country to recognise its independence, joining much of the Western world.

China, Russia and five European Union member states have not granted recognition to Kosovo.

The decision on mutual recognition between Kosovo and Israel was achieved last September at a summit of Kosovo-Serbia leaders at the White House in the presence of then-President Donald Trump.

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