According to the President of Serbia Alexandr Vuvic , the government of the self-declared state of Kosovo sent an application to the Republics of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine to recognize the independence of Kosovo.

"I have got information that  Pristina requested Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine and some countries to recognize the independence of Kosovo," the Vuvic said. 

The president said that Pristina's such steps are violating the Washington agreement, but also urges Belgrade to decide to move in another direction.

According to the Washington agreement, Pristina will not apply to new states to recognize Kosovo until September 1, 2021. Instead, Belgrade will suspend its efforts to prevent the recognition of the separatist region. Kosovo's independence has been recognized by a number of Western countries, including the United States, but Serbia considers the region its own.

Azerbaijan is one of the countries that does not recognize the independence of Kosovo. In February 2008, when Kosovo declared its independence, it was stated in the press conference by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan that Baku will never accept the recognition of the independence of Kosovo and support the territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia.  

In what political and legal cases, Azerbaijan has been avoiding the recognition of the independence of Kosovo? 

According to Farid Shafiyev, the member of the Board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations, Azerbaijan’s policy on such issues is based on the respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the countries.

“Azerbaijan is not considering the issue of Kosovo recognition. The country’s policy on such issues is based on the principles of international law and relevant decisions of the United Nations, including the Security Council. In this regard, Azerbaijan does not see legal ground for the recognition of Kosovo independence,” Farid Shafiyev.

Turkish expert Engin Ozer noted that Azerbaijan and Serbia are the countries struggling with the problem of separatism in their territories.

“Kosovo was an autonomous region within the territorial integrity of Serbia while being a former member of Yugoslavia as like the autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh within the territorial integrity of the Socialist Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan. In both Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh the armies of Serbia and Azerbaijan involved in the military clashes with the separatist forces. For that reason, Azerbaijan recognizes Kosovo as part of the internationally recognized territory of the Republic of Serbia,” Engin said. 

by Yunis Abdullayev 

The article was prepared with the financial support of the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan