WASHINGTON — In a landmark announcement, US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Kosovo and Israel have agreed to normalize ties and establish diplomatic relations.
Expressing his joy over the historic development, the US president tweeted, saying: “Another great day for peace with Middle East — Muslim-majority Kosovo and Israel have agreed to normalize ties and establish diplomatic relations. Well-done! More Islamic and Arab nations will follow soon!”
He also said former rivals Kosovo and Serbia also committed to economic normalization.
“Serbia and Kosovo have each committed to economic normalization,” the US president said alongside officials from Kosovo and Serbia.
After two days of meetings with Trump administration officials, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti agreed to cooperate on a range of economic fronts to attract investment and create jobs.
Ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after a NATO-led bombing campaign to curtail ethnic warfare. Serbia, backed by its large Slavic and Orthodox Christian ally Russia, does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, a precondition for Belgrade’s future membership in the European Union.
Trump revealed that Serbia, which recently designated Iran-backed Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
“Congratulations to @predsednikrs Vucic for announcing the move of Serbia’s Embassy to Jerusalem by July. It is a brave and historic move!” Trump said in a tweet.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also thanked “my friend, the president of Serbia.” Netanyahu said the embassy move would take place by July of next year.
Kosovo, meanwhile, has agreed with Israel to normalize ties and establish diplomatic relations. — Agencies
