Kosovo to Recognize Montenegrin Minority

Kosovo President pledges Montenegrins ethnic minority status, so opening the door for the opening of embassies, on hold since 2008.The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, has announced that Kosovo has agreed to recognize a Montenegrin ethnic minority as a constitutional category.

“We will do it with new amandements to the Kosovo constitution,” Jahjaga told the Montenegrin public service broadcaster, RTCG.

According to her, this should pave the way to the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Kosovo and Montenegro.

“This will create conditions for opening embassies and improving intergovernmental cooperation,” the President said.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. In October 2008, Montenegro recognized the country.

However, Montengro has resisted opening embassies until Montenegrins obtain minority status and thus obtain right to minority representation in the Kosovo parliament.

So far, Kosovo has been recognized by 92 out of 193 UN member states including the US, and 22 of the 27 EU countries.