Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced that following Kenya’s official recognition of Kosovo, he had spoken with Kenyan President William Ruto.
Kurti called on Ruto to open an embassy in Pristina, according to the online newspaper Reporteri.net.
“Today is a historic day for Kosovo, as Kenya has officially recognized our republic. I had the pleasure of speaking with President William Ruto after this historic moment. We invited each other for official visits and agreed that the next step would be the establishment of diplomatic relations. Proud and honored by this achievement, I extended an invitation to Kenya to open an embassy in Pristina. Our two countries share a history of great sacrifices for freedom and independence. I look forward to deepening and expanding our cooperation in culture, trade, and investment,” Kurti wrote.
After over four years of diplomatic efforts, Kenya broke the diplomatic vacuum for new recognitions of Kosovo, becoming the 118th country to officially recognize its independence, declared in 2008.
The news was announced by politician Behgjet Pacolli, who also served as Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. In a social media post, Pacolli stated that discussions with Kenya had started in 2009 and culminated successfully with the recognition of Kosovo.
“This is a great victory for the state of Kosovo, it is the voice of our freedom heard deeply in the heart of Africa! Today, our state flag is raised high with pride in Nairobi, and this is proof that Kosovo is moving forward, strongly and with dignity when there is hard work and willpower!” Pacolli wrote.
“17 years after Independence, in a unique and unforgettable ceremony, the Republic of Kenya—one of the most important states in Africa—officially recognized the Republic of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state!” he added.
