Cyprus–Kosovo relations

Cypriot–Kosovar relations are foreign relations between Cyprus and Kosovo.[lower-alpha 1] There are no formal diplomatic relations between two states as Cyprus has not recognized Kosovo as a sovereign state.

Cypriot–Kosovar relations
Map indicating locations of Cyprus and Kosovo

Cyprus
Kosovo

History

Cyprus is one of the five European Union countries that does not recognise Kosovo's independence. During its EU presidency, Cyprus has not changed its policy towards Kosovo and continues to support Serbia on its European integration course. The Cypriot Minister of Commerce assessed that Serbia should be given more time to fulfil the European Council and Commission's conditions set for commencement of the accession negotiations. If those conditions are fulfilled, Cyprus will continue to support Serbia.[1]

On 11 February 2008, the Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, stated that "Cyprus will never recognize a unilateral declaration of independence outside the U.N. framework, and in particular by side-stepping the role of the Security Council".[2] The President of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias, confirmed in March 2008 that Cyprus would not recognise Kosovo as an independent country, out of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia.[3] Christofias reiterated his opposition to recognition in an interview with a Russian newspaper, saying, "The one thing that Kosovo and Cyprus have in common, as far as the situation in these regions is concerned, is that in both cases, the basic principles of international law and legality, as well as UN decisions, are constantly being violated". The Cypriot president argued that the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of both Serbia and Cyprus were being violated.[4]

On 23 February 2009, in a meeting with Serbian president Boris Tadić, Christofias said that "Cyprus has not recognized the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo and we will not recognize it in the future. We are on your side, not only because your case is similar to ours, but because it is a matter of principles".[5] On 16 June 2009, Minister of Defence of Cyprus Costas Papacostas said that Cyprus will never recognise the independence of Kosovo.[6][7] In October 2009 this stance was reiterated by Christofias who said Cyprus would not recognise Kosovo, even if all other European Union members did so.[8]

On 28 June 2012, the Cypriot Foreign Ministry stated that while they have not recognised the independence of Kosovo, they were fully committed to further advancing the European perspective of the region. They pledged that during their European Union Council Presidency, Cyprus would exercise its duties in a neutral and credible manner, taking into consideration the positions of all EU member states, but that any actions undertaken during the Presidency should not in any way be interpreted as suggesting any change in their position in relation to non-recognition and to the status of Kosovo under international law.[9]

See also

Notes
  1. The political status of Kosovo is disputed. Having unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, Kosovo is formally recognised as a sovereign state by 101 UN member states (with another 13 states recognising it at some point but then withdrawing their recognition) and 92 states not recognizing it, while Serbia continues to claim it as a part of its own territory.

References
  1. "Cyprus hopes for Serbia accession talks to begin". International Radio Serbia. 6 June 2012.
  2. FM: Cyprus will never recognize unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, People's Daily Online, 12 February 2008
  3. Cyprus president 'plans for unity', Al Jazeera, 7 March 2008 Archived 8 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Cyprus doesn't recognize Kosovo independence" Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, B92, 26 March 2008
  5. "Cyprus will never recognize Kosovo" Archived 27 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine, B92, 23 February 2009
  6. Papakostas: Kipar nikada neće priznati nezavisnost Kosova Archived 26 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Blic.rs, 16 June 2009 (in Croatian)
  7. Papakostas: We will not recognize independence of Kosovo, Radio Srbija, 16 June 2009 Archived copy at WebCite (9 July 2007).
  8. Cyprus will never recognise Kosovo, Serbian Government, 16 October 2009
  9. Declaration on Kosovo on the occasion of the assumption of the EU Council Presidency by the Republic of Cyprus – 28/06/2012 Archived 23 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Republic of Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs 28 June 2012
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