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IMF Offers Membership to Republic of Kosovo

After a favorable vote by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) members, Republic of Kosovo has been offered to become the 186th member of the IMF. At a session on May 5th 2009, the IMF members voted to approve membership of Republic of Kosovo to this important economic and financial institution.

The often cited role of IMF is to provide financial assistance to countries undergoing serious economic and financial difficulties but IMF is also highly important in surveillance of economic and financial data, offering policy advice and giving technical assistance. IMF is also active in development of standards and codes for best practices, research and statistics.

IMF is the first global economic and financial institution to accept Republic of Kosovo as a member. It is also a highly crucial one in time of difficult economic reforms when Kosovo needs support in form of expertise and funding.

IMF membership, together with future membership to the World Trade Organization, World Bank, and other important economic institutions, is an important step towards economic progress in Kosovo.

To accept membership, Republic of Kosovo must “formally accept, in accordance with its own laws, the IMF’s Articles of Agreement and all the terms and conditions prescribed in the Board of Governors’ resolution” states the IMF’s press release.

We would like to thank our friends around the world for their support in this very important step.

Source: IMF Press Release

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ICJ: 35 UN Member States have filed written statements on advisory opinion about Kosovo’s Independence

International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced that 35 United Nations Member Sates have filed written statements on the advisory opinion about the Declaration of Independence by the Government of Kosovo. The texts of the written statements and of the written contribution are confidential at this stage of the proceedings.

Among the countries that have filed written statements, 21 have recognized  and 14 including Serbia have not recognized the Independence of Kosovo.

Countries that have recognized Kosovo (21): Albania, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany,  Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Latvia, Maldives, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America.

Countries that have not recognized Kosovo (14): Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Iran.

The decision about the advisory opinion is expected to be made sometime in the middle of next year.

See ICJ announcement

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recognizes Republic of Kosovo

[updated]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia declared that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recognized Kosovo and expressed intent to establish diplomatic relations with the young European state.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi people and HRH King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and the rest of the royal family.

Saudi Arabia becomes the 58th UN Member state to recognize the Republic of Kosovo.

Reports: Saudi Press Agency | Kosovo MFA

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Update (1): Union of the Comoros recognize Kosovo

Update: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Kosovo has received a verbal note from the government of the Union of the Comoros in which the Foreign Minister of Comoros, Mr. Ahmed Ben Said Jaffar, offers his support and congratulations to Kosovo on its independence and wishes prosperity and stronger ties between the two states. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Kosovo is in process of confirming whether this verbal note also states intent of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, and thus recognition.

The leader of the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), Behgjet Pacolli said that the Union of the Comoros has recognized the independence of Kosovo. According to Mr. Pacolli, this decision will be formalized in due time with the Government of Republic of Kosovo. The exact date of the formal decision is not yet known.

The KosovoThanksYou team has contacted the Permanent Mission of the Union of the Comoros to the United Nations in New York, but was not able get confirmation of this news as the ambassador was on duty travel. KosovoThanksYou team is currently working on confirming this recognition with relevant authorities in the Comoros. We expect to attain confirmation early next week.

Relevant Reports: MFA of Kosovo, Gazeta Express

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Republic of The Gambia recognizes Kosovo

Republic of The Gambia has recognized Kosovo as an independent state. The official note was sent today to the Embassy of Kosovo in Washintgon DC.

The recognition is formalized after the meeting of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Skender Hyseni with the ambassador of The Gambia to United Nations, Susan Waffa-Ogoo on March 26th, 2009.

The Gambia becomes the 57th country that has recognized Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state.

Download MFA of Kosovo announcement

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Indonesia open towards recognition of Kosovo

During a speech made to the London School of Economics on the 31st of March 2009, the President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, gave positive signs that Indonesia might recognize Kosovo if it becomes clear that Kosovo is a special case. The president also noted that the independence of Kosovo is part of the nation building process resulting from the collapse of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, a process that has not yet concluded.

President Yudhoyono said that Indonesia considers two important points in this situation, the sovereignty of countries under international law, and the will of the people of Kosovo to be independent.

President Yudhoyono stated that “for now it is quite possible for Indonesia to accept the independent status of Kosovo after we examine carefully that there is a different situation in Myanmar”, adding that, “after the process of Balkanization you have the independent state of Kosovo.”

The President of Indonesia also added that “we are still following the situation in Kosovo and it is quite possible that some day Indonesia recognizes the independence of Kosovo.”

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Orchestral Version of Kosovo National Anthem now available

The Orchestral Version of the Kosovo National Anthem composed by Mendi Mengjiqi is now available at the Kosovo Thanks You website.

This recording of the Kosovo Anthem was performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Kosovo on February 17, 2009, marking the first anniversary of Kosovo’s Independence.

Until now, the only version available of Kosovo’s Anthem was the computerized MIDI version. The Kosovo Thanks You team is making this version public for the first time.

You need flash player to play this music.

Download Anthem (MP3):

– Philharmonic Orchestra of Kosovo

– United States Navy Band

– MIDI

Related links:  State Symbols

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Bahrain Parliament approves proposal on recognition of Kosovo

The Bahrain Parliament’s foreign affairs, defense and national security committee approved today in its weekly meeting a proposal on recognition on Kosovo’s independence.

The head of committee Sheikh Adel Al Muawda stressed for an immediate recognition of Kosovo Independence and establishing diplomatic relations with the new republic. The head of committee also urged Arab and Islamic countries to follow suit through the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Conference .

Source: Bahrain News Agency

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10 years since NATO came to Kosovo’s aid

The 24th of March marks the 10th anniversary of NATO strikes aimed at stoping vioelence and ethnic cleansing on Kosovar Albanians. A whole generation of Kosovars will remember this day for all their lives, and with 10 years behind us we can only focus on the future and for this future to be a bright one. Today Kosovo is independent and recognized by 56 UN member states, and many other friends around the world.

But also to this day, the same ideology that in 1999 attempted to forcefully subdue a peaceful nation and tried for almost a century to destroy its future by closing universities, schools and treating Kosovo as a colony, is continuing its bizare and hard to comprehend campaign. The ideology that sits today in Belgrade has caused too much suffering for everyone in South East Europe and we can only hope that 10 years from now it will be history.

Therefore, 10 years may have passed and most countries in the Balkans might have moved on, but we still await for the rest to catch up. At least so we hope.

We must also not forget the thousands that are missing and whose families await to learn about the fate of their loved ones. 10 years later, forgivness has yet to be sought by those that caused harm.

We may celebrate, but we must also remember.