Our position on confirmation of recognitions

Dear friends and supporters,

We have recently received a number of emails informing us that Burundi has recognized Kosovo. We want to assure you we are aware of the recent events and do our best to be on top of what is happening.

We want to use these recent recognitions as an opportunity to highlight the lack of coordination and communication between Kosovo institutions.

We are in no way undermining or belittling the work of anyone involved in securing these recognitions, including the Deputy Prime Minister Behgjet Pacolli.

We greatly appreciate the work being done in this regard.

But, clear weaknesses remain. Recognitions are being communicated in an uncoordinated and untimely manner. They are announced in an unstructured way and sometimes without clarity.

We are taking this opportunity to request that the Kosovar institutions get serious about working on this together. This means coordinating the announcements, but also giving credit where credit is due. Confirming recognitions with one month delay, having countries missing from the official list, removing countries without giving proper reasons, are not signs of seriously run institutions.

We request that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs take a structured and coordinated approach to announcing recognitions.

  • Clearly indicating whether a country has recognized or has only shown support, and avoiding the use of confusing titles in media releases
  • Assigning a “recognition spokesperson” that would be the official voice for announcing the recognitions
  • Giving credit to the people and institutions involved in securing the recognitions
  • Being transparent when mistakes happen, they happen and it is human for them to happen. No big deal.
  • Clarifying the position on certain “unclear” recognitions
  • When a press release is issued, the MFA web site needs to be updated properly (the last recognition is still missing in the MFA list)

It is easy to do if there is will to do so.

We want to reassure everyone that the team running this web site belongs to no political structure, party or affiliation. The team sympathises with no such entities. We are a completely apolitical group of people that are doing this for the good of the State. Our position is completely neutral in that regard.

All we are asking is that the work be done properly and in a coordinated manner. The people and citizens of Kosovo deserve this, we hope that the Kosovar institutions can deliver this minimum.

Thanking all those that recognized Kosovo

Sometimes we need to take a moment and think about all that has happened since February 17th 2008. In about half a year, Kosovo will be 5 years old. During this time, 91 countries have recognized our home country and many have accepted our existence by not ignoring or preventing Kosovars from using their passports. These are big deeds. Deeds of friendship and acceptance, deeds that show human values and justice.

We want to take a moment and thank all those countries, people, nations, governments and oppositions, monarchs and decision makers, for it is because of you that we can today say “we exist”. Your acceptance has gone beyond senseless boundaries and have embraced friendship and openness. Without it we would not be.

It is your acceptance that gives hope to 2 million citizens of the Kosovar Republic that even if we are far from perfect, have a long way to go, need to build a sensible society that gives birth a sensible governance, are struggling to understand and give roots to Rule of Law, that some day we will make it.

We will probably not meet in the halls of the General Assembly in New York while the Veto remains a tool of politics, we will probably not meet in the Olympic games of Rio 2016 while the International Olympics Committee is willing to bend over to politics, and we will definitely not meet each other playing the Beautiful game while UEFA and FIFA show no backbone to politics.

Nevertheless, the above matter not.

What matters is, that today at least, there are 91 countries that say “Kosovo exists”. And for this we want to thank each and every one of you. Thank you for accepting us, thank you for supporting us, and thank you for recognizing us.

The KosovoThanksYou Team

4 years of Independence, 88 recognitions

Today marks the 4th anniversary of Kosovo’s independence. Since the 17th of February 2008, 88 UN Member states have recognized Kosovo.

A lot remains to be done. A lot of obstacles remain to be conquered.

We want to thank our friends, supporters, those that have faith in us for their priceless support and help.

We, the KosovoThanksYou web site, also want to take this opportunity to thank all of you that make this site what it is. Without you it would not be possible.

Happy Independence Day

Concerning recognitions by Nigeria and Gabon

In the interest of a more solid and transparent process related to securing recognitions; a more coordinated and planned communication plan on the side of Kosovar authorities; and above all, the view that the citizens of Republic of Kosovo have an undeniable right to be informed in a proper and consistent manner about issues that affect them greatly, this site has decided to remove as “official” the recognitions by Nigeria and Gabon.

In addition to the above, there are another two important reasons to do this. The first reason being the absence of an official confirmation in the form of a verbal note. The second being the desire to see a coordinated and unified approach from the side of Kosovar institutions.

The first reason is crucial. Especially in times Kosovo finds itself. The absence of verbal notes renders the whole process unofficial and not in accordance to internationally accepted protocols. Equally, without having established the act as official, the door remains open for decision revisions and influence by those that work against Kosovo recognitions and Kosovo in general.

The second reason is equally critical given Kosovo is still establishing its statehood. International relations and diplomacy need to be done in a coordinated and secure manner. Communication between states needs to follow well known principles, whereas communication with the general public needs to contain supporting materials that leave no unanswered questions.

It is therefore in light of the above stated reasons that the site has decided to remove Nigeria and Gabon from the official list and mark them as states “in process” of recognizing.

We also want to use this opportunity to request that the Kosovar authorities, and in particular the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, establish a focal point in form of a spokesman/spokeswoman, in charge of communicating official and established recognitions to the Kosovar citizens. The role of this individual would be to serve as the main point of contact.

We remain grateful to the people of Nigeria and Gabon and hope the recognitions are confirmed as official in the coming days.

In closing, we want to acknowledge and applaud the efforts made to date by many individuals in securing more recognitions. These individuals include Kosovar officials and private citizens. We also want to highlight that the above is not meant to belittle or devalue the work and dedication of those involved but to emphasize the need for a more protocol-friendly and coordinated approach in reaching our goals as a state.

Kosovo needs and deserves this.

Guinea-Bissau recognizes Kosovo

Guinea-Bissau has become the 74th UN Member state to recognize the independence of Republic of Kosovo. The news has been confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Kosovo.

We thank the people of Guinea-Bissau wholeheartedly for their recognition and friendship.

Qatar recognizes Republic of Kosovo

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Kosovo, Qatar has recognized the independence of Republic of Kosovo. This makes Qatar the 73rd UN Member state to recognize the independence of Kosovo.

We thank the Qatari people wholeheartedly for their support and acceptance.

Thank you Qatar!

Tuvalu recognizes the Republic of Kosovo

The Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed today that the Pacific island state of Tuvalu, has officially recognized Republic of Kosovo. This makes Tuvalu the 72nd UN Member State to recognize Kosovo.

We thank the people of Tuvalu wholeheartedly for extending the hand of friendship and recognizing us as a State and our place in the world.

Thank you Tuvalu!!!

Apply to Vote by Mail (Deadline: November 16)

Apply to vote by email! Scan the filled form and the national id, and email them to KQZ at ovpp@kqz-ks.org (The form can be downloaded here) — The deadline is on November 16th (Tuesday) !!!
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Rgjistrohuni për votim përmes email-it! Skenoni formularin e mbushur dhe letërnjoftimin, dhe pastaj dërgoni në KQZ në ovpp@kqz-ks.org (formularin mund t’a shkarkoni këtu) — 16 Nëntori (E Marte) është afati i fundit!!!
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Glasajte putem e-maila! Skenirajte popunjen formular i licnu kartu i posalite na ovpp@kqz-ks.org. Formular mozete preuzeti ovde – Rok za prijavu je 16 Novembar (Utorak)!!!

Apply to vote by email! Scan the filled form and the national id, and email them to KQZ at ovpp@kqz-ks.org (The form can be downloaded here) — The deadline is on November 16th (Tuesday) !!!


Rgjistrohuni për votim përmes email-it! Skenoni formularin e mbushur dhe letërnjoftimin, dhe pastaj dërgoni në KQZ në ovpp@kqz-ks.org (formularin mund t’a shkarkoni këtu) — 16 Nëntori (E Marte) është afati i fundit!!!


Glasajte putem e-maila! Skenirajte popunjen formular i licnu kartu i posalite na ovpp@kqz-ks.org. Formular mozete preuzeti ovde – Rok za prijavu je 16 Novembar (Utorak)!!!

Republic of Kiribati recognizes Kosovo

The Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed today that the Pacific island Republic of Kiribati, has officially recognized Republic of Kosovo. This makes Kiribati the 71st UN Member State to recognize Kosovo.

We thank the people of Kiribati wholeheartedly for extending the hand of friendship and recognizing us as a State and our place in the world.

Thank you Kiribati!!!