Wrote: Festim Rizanaj
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić addressed the public on Friday regarding the Kosovo issue. During a press conference, Vučić presented measures and presented seven demands regarding the “Kosovo Serb issue,” which he described as necessary preconditions for significant progress in the dialogue.
During his speech, he also focused on the issue of recognition of Kosovo's statehood, where, among other things, he stated that so far 112 countries recognize Kosovo's independence.
"85 countries recognized Kosovo's independence and this story is over for them. In 2013, we had a complete economic collapse, the collapse of several states where we were. It was followed by general indifference. We have 112 countries that recognize independence. Only the strongest and those who have a similar situation to us remain on our side. Then come the talks and negotiations for the Brussels Agreement. The signatures in the Brussels Agreement are worth nothing. In the coming period we can expect worse news, because they have elections." (here)
This statement by Vučić regarding recognitions took place in the Serbian-language media, disinformation that only 85 countries recognize Kosovo, even though Vučić says that so far, there are 112 countries. (here)
After verifications, it has been confirmed that the number of recognitions is not as claimed by Vučić and the Serbian-language media. According to official list On the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo, Kosovo is recognized by 117 countries.
Allegations of de-recognition by Serbian officials
Serbia has on several occasions claimed to withdraw recognitions, mainly from African countries, but this has been rejected by Kosovo institutions.
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, on the evening of January 4 (2023), in his annual presentation to present Serbia's achievements, among other things, spoke about the recognition of Kosovo. He claimed that nine countries have already withdrawn their recognition of Kosovo, including Somalia, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Eswatini, Libya, Guinea, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia and the Maldives. (here)Hibrid.info has researched the official websites of the ministries of foreign affairs of the states mentioned as withdrawing recognition of Kosovo and has not found any information or public statements about withdrawing recognition of Kosovo as an independent state. (The websites of the ministries of foreign affairs of Somalia, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Eswatini or Swaziland, Libya, Guinea, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia and Maldives).
Likewise, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo has announced that there is no notification in the official diplomatic institutions of Kosovo regarding the withdrawal of recognitions.
Diplomatic representatives of some of the countries that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić claimed had withdrawn their recognition of Kosovo have pledged to deepen relations. These pledges were made by diplomats from 6 of the 9 countries (Somalia, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Eswatini, Libya, Guinea, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia and the Maldives), which Vučić, on the evening of January 4, 2023, in his annual presentation to present Serbia's achievements, said had withdrawn their recognition of Kosovo's independence. (here)
Official data on recognition of the state of Kosovo
Kosova declared independence on February 17, 2008The first recognition came that very day. According to official list on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo, Kosovo is recognized by 117 countries. (here)
In this list of the MFA, the first recognition appears to be that of the Republic of Costa Rica, which was registered on Independence Day, February 17, 2008.
February 18, 2008, appears to be the most successful date in terms of recognitions. The United States, France, Albania, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Afghanistan recognized Kosovo on that day. The year 2008 brought 53 recognitions for Kosovo.
The following year, Kosovo received 11 recognitions, and in 2010, eight recognitions followed. In the following two years (2011 and 2012), Kosovo received 12 recognitions each. In 2013, eight recognitions followed. After that, the number of recognitions began to decline. From 2014 to today (September 9, 2024), Kosovo has received 13 recognitions.
On September 4th, it will be four years since Kosovo, within the framework of what is known as like the Washington Agreement, agreed on mutual recognition with the state of Israel. The recognition was made official on February 1, 2021. And this remains the last recognition for the state of Kosovo to date.