Vjosa Osmani flew to Nassau to sign this one in person. On Friday, December 19, the Kosovo president and Bahamian Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis put their names to a joint communiqué at the prime minister’s office. With that, the Bahamas recognised Kosovo’s statehood and the two countries established diplomatic relations, effective from the date of signing.
Osmani counted it as the 121st recognition. “Another historic decision for our country,” she wrote, adding that she had just signed the bilateral agreement in the Bahamian capital with “our good friend Philip Davis.” According to Vijesti, it was Kosovo’s fourth recognition this year, after Syria, Sudan and Kenya. The Bahamas is also the latest Caricom member to open relations with Kosovo.
What the two governments said
Davis made a point of Osmani travelling to the Bahamas rather than handling the paperwork from afar. He called the day “the beginning of a relationship that we seek to strengthen,” and said the two countries would pursue many areas of cooperation in a world with many geopolitical challenges. He added that he might travel to Kosovo early in the new year.
Osmani said it was a day of historic significance for Kosovo, which she said would always count the Bahamas a friend, partner and ally. She thanked the Bahamian government and people, and noted that the two leaders had already discussed cooperation when they met in New York.
The joint statement names the areas where they intend to work together, from trade and investment to tourism, education, culture, technology and political consultations, along with exchanges between people. It also commits both sides to the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty, equal standing among states and peaceful resolution of disputes, and says relations rest on international law and the Vienna treaty of 1961 on diplomatic ties.
The dispute behind the signature
Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia on February 17, 2008, unilaterally, in a declaration that followed years of ethnic strife, the collapse of Yugoslavia and the 1998 to 1999 war, after which the territory was run by international administrators. Over 100 states have recognised it. Serbia, China and Russia are among those that have not.
The Tribune in Nassau reported that the step extends the Bahamas’ diplomatic reach into Europe, with both governments stressing peace, stability and partnership.
Sources
- Bahamas formally recognizes Kosovo as sovereign state (Tribune242)
- Bahamas latest Caricom country to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo (Jamaica Observer / CMC)
- A Historic Decision, Osmani Says: The Bahamas Recognizes Kosovo (Euronews Albania)
- Osmani: Bahamas became the 121st country to recognize Kosovo (Vijesti)
