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Kosovo–United Kingdom relations

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Kosovan–British
Map indicating locations of Kosovo and United Kingdom

Kosovo
United Kingdom
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Kosovo, LondonEmbassy of the United Kingdom, Pristina
Envoy
Ambassador Ilir KapitiAmbassador Nicholas Abbott
Kosovan embassy in London, United Kingdom.

Kosovo–United Kingdom relations are foreign relations between the Republic of Kosovo and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. When Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008,[1] the United Kingdom became one of the first countries to announce the official recognition of a sovereign Kosovo on 18 February 2008.[2][3] The United Kingdom has had an embassy in Pristina since 5 March 2008.[4] Kosovo has had an embassy in London since 1 October 2008. The two countries have very good and friendly relations.

Economic relations

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From 1 April 2016 until 30 December 2020, trade between Kosovo and the UK was governed by the Kosovo–European Union Stabilisation and Association Process, while the United Kingdom was a member of the European Union.[5] Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the UK and Kosovo signed a continuity trade agreement on 3 December 2019, based on the EU free trade agreement; the agreement entered into force on 1 January 2021.[6][7] Trade value between Kosovo and the United Kingdom was worth £13 million in 2022.[8]

Military relations

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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.[9] 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.[10]

On 30 September 2023, it was reported that due to the build up of Serbian forces on the border between Kosovo and Serbia, the 1st Battalion of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment was sent to Kosovo as part of KFOR.[11]

Political relations

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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.[12] 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.

The disintegration of Yugoslavia and the end of the Cold War prompted the United Kingdom to shift its foreign policy in the Balkans, ending its support for Serbia in favour of building a unique bilateral relationship with Kosovo. The United Kingdom has acted as Kosovo’s protector, spearheading efforts to build state institutions and establish it on the international stage.[13]

Embassy

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British Embassy, Pristina
LocationKosovo Pristina, Kosovo
Address177 Lidhja e Pejës,
Pristina, 10000
Kosovo
Coordinates42°38′47.8″N 21°7′26.0″E / 42.646611°N 21.123889°E / 42.646611; 21.123889
AmbassadorJonathan Hargreaves
WebsiteOfficial Website

The British Embassy in Pristina (Albanian: Ambasada Britanike në Kosovë, Serbian: Британска амбасада у Косову) is the United Kingdom's diplomatic mission to Kosovo. It is located at 177 Lidhja e Pejës, Pristina, Kosovo; it was established on 5 March 2008.[14] The embassy also represents the British Overseas Territories in Kosovo.

Ambassadors

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Main article: List of ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Kosovo

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "UK to recognise independent Kosovo – PM". Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 18 February 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  2. ^ "UK to recognise independent Kosovo - PM". United Kingdom Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 18 February 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  3. ^ Nicholas Kulish and C. J. Chivers (19 February 2008). "Kosovo Is Recognized but Rebuked by Others". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  4. ^ "British Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  5. ^ "Information relating to the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo (*), of the other part". Europa.eu. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  6. ^ "UK-Kosovo partnership, trade and cooperation agreement". GOV.UK. 20 December 2019. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Brexit trade deals: the agreements in place already, from Chile to the Faroe Islands – and what the UK could trade with them". iNews. 27 January 2020. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  8. ^ "UK trade agreements in effect". GOV.UK. 3 November 2022. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Kosovo Force (KFOR)" Archived 2009-10-05 at the Portuguese Web Archive www.nato.int Link accessed 21-07-09
  10. ^ "New mission for British troops in Kosovo" Archived 2021-06-09 at the Wayback Machine guardian.co.uk 25 April Link Added 25 April 2008
  11. ^ "1PWRR British Army troops on standby to provide potential support in Kosovo". Forces Network. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  12. ^ Marr, Andrew; A History of Modern Britain (2008 printing); page 550
  13. ^ Dauti, Daut (22 February 2023), "Bilateral Relations between Kosovo and the United Kingdom", Kosovo’s Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations, London: Routledge, pp. 254–270, doi:10.4324/9781003371588-13, ISBN 978-1-003-37158-8, retrieved 21 July 2023
  14. ^ "British Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2008.
  15. ^ "BLUNT, David Graeme". Who's Who 2013. A & C Black. 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  16. ^ "SPARKES, Andrew James". Who's Who 2013. A & C Black. 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  17. ^ "Ian Cliff". gov.uk.
  18. ^ "Ruairí O'Connell". gov.uk.
  19. ^ "Arrival of the new British Ambassador to Kosovo". gov.uk. British Embassy Pristina. 11 April 2015.
  20. ^ "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to Kosovo - September 2019". gov.uk. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  21. ^ @UKinKosovo (5 September 2019). "Her Majesty's Ambassador to Kosovo, HE Nicholas Abbott, presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Kosovo, HE Hashim Thaçi this morning". Twitter.
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