Georgetown: Guyana and Kosovo signed a Joint Communiqué establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. The document was signed today by Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and His Excellency Mr. Enver Hoxhaj, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo.
Thursday’s signing of the Joint Communiqué is an indication of the impact the decision taken by Guyana has had on the people and Government of Kosovo. Such an event has not happened in five years at the Ministry. “We are very pleased that we have gotten to this place… a new chapter has started, and I am confident that the relations between Kosovo and Guyana can only grow,” Minister Rodrigues-Birkett emphasised in a statement to the media.
She recalled that in 2008 Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence, and as expected, not every country at that time supported Kosovo’s decision. “In October 2008, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution by which it requested the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to render an opinion on the question and this is the question – the unilateral declaration of independence by the provisional institutions of self government of Kosovo in accordance with international law,” the Minister explained. That resolution was tabled by Serbia.
Importantly, Guyana was one of the 77 countries, at that time that supported the resolution and voted in favour of it. In July 2010, the ICJ released its opinion on the matter and by 10 votes to 4 declared that the announcement of independence by Kosovo did not violate international law.
In response to that opinion, a second resolution was adopted in September 2010 and that resolution acknowledged the content of the ICJ’s opinion and welcomed the readiness of the EU to facilitate a process of dialogue between the Serbia and Kosovo.
“Our government has been following these events very closely…we wanted to be assured that there was enough progress between Kosovo and Serbia before we provide our recognition of Kosovo as a state,” Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said.
Further while attending the Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Cairo earlier this year, the Minister noted that she met with Minister Hoxhaj who provide an update on the situation and the progress that was made.
“In my opinion enough progress was made and the timing was right for Guyana to recognise Kosovo as a state…we noted that as March 2013 Kosovo has received diplomatic recognition by 101 countries, in addition to being granted membership to the World Bank, IMF and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,” she said.
On returning to Guyana this information was relayed to the Cabinet and a decision was taken for Guyana to recognise Kosovo as a state.
Minister Hoxhaj in expressing his satisfaction with his visit noted that while in discussions with Minister Rodrigues-Birkett in Cairo he was impressed with her vision on foreign affairs and her commitment to improve relations with all countries in the world. “Minister Rodrigues-Birkett will be for Kosovo a very important supporter and friend,” he said.
The Minister emphasised that Kosovo is interested in going beyond diplomatic relations and to see how the two countries can cooperate in different areas. While Kosovo is a young nation, it is interested in becoming a strategic partner for Guyana in that part of the world, not only in the short, but in the long- term as well.
He acknowledged that the signing to the Joint Communiqué is in recognition of Kosovo’s journey towards being an independent and democratic state. Further, Minister Hoxhaj indicated his nation’s interest for Guyanese youths with varying skills and abilities to visit Kosovo to seek out areas of cooperation with the people of Kosovo.
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