PRISHTINA, Oct 30 /ATA/ – Germany and the United Kingdom on Thursday welcomed Syria’s decision to recognize Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state, a move Prishtina says strengthens its international standing.
President Vjosa Osmani announced the recognition during a visit to Riyadh a day ago, saying the agreement was reached with the support of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Germany’s ambassador to Kosovo, Rainer Rudolph, congratulated Osmani and the people of Kosovo, noting Berlin’s longstanding support. “I am pleased to see this new dynamic. Germany has always supported Kosovo’s independence and sovereignty,” he wrote on social media.
British ambassador Jonathan Hargreaves called the step “an important moment for Kosovo’s international position and its Euro-Atlantic path.” He added that the UK “continues to encourage all states to join the growing consensus in support of Kosovo’s independence.”
Syria’s Foreign Ministry said the recognition reflected its belief in the right to self-determination and its commitment to peace and stability in the Balkans and beyond.
The decision marks Syria’s first formal engagement with Kosovo after years of international isolation and domestic turmoil. Since January, Syria has been governed by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, a former opposition commander who succeeded Bashar al-Assad, ending the family’s five-decade rule.
Syria becomes the 120th country to recognize Kosovo, whose independence was declared in February 2008. It is the third recognition this year, following Sudan and Kenya. Before that, Israel recognized Kosovo in 2021.
Serbia continues to oppose Kosovo’s statehood and has condemned the latest recognitions.
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