Former diplomat Avni Arifi stated in an interview that Syria’s recognition of Kosovo carries far greater political significance than commonly perceived, describing it as much more than a routine diplomatic recognition.
Arifi emphasized that this move represents a geopolitical shock for the Russo-Serbian bloc, as a country that was historically against Kosovo has now officially acknowledged its statehood.
“Recognition by Syria is much more politically significant than we think; it’s not just a regular recognition. It’s a geopolitical shock for the Russo-Serbian camp because this was a country loyal to Serbia, previously opposing Kosovo. During NATO’s bombing of Serbia, Hafez al-Assad condemned the intervention, called it American propaganda, and even considered it the start of World War III. Now, this state that was strongly anti-Kosovo has recognized Kosovo,” Arifi explained.
He added that Syria’s recognition sends a message to other countries, particularly in the Arab and Muslim world—such as Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Iraq—that the process of recognizing Kosovo is ongoing.
“Now that this state, which was strongly anti-Kosovo, has recognized Kosovo, it simultaneously sends a signal to other Arab countries that the recognition process is not finished, but continues,” Arifi said.
Concluding his remarks, Arifi expressed that he would like Kosovo’s diplomacy to leverage this momentum to secure additional recognitions, though he admitted being pessimistic about its prospects.
“I would have loved for Kosovo’s diplomacy to take advantage of this momentum, as such moments can create opportunities for new recognitions, but I am very pessimistic about this,” he said.
