Syria recognized Kosovo's independence today, officials from the two countries announced.
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani wrote on Facebook that the agreement on Syrian recognition of Kosovo was reached in Riyadh, with the support of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Osmani thanked Syrian President Ahmed al-Shari'a for his decision to recognize Kosovo and for his support for the people of Kosovo.
The President of Kosovo traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, at the invitation of Mohammed bin Salman, to participate in the Future Investment Initiative forum.
"The people of Kosovo and Syria have suffered and sacrificed a lot to achieve freedom. Therefore, this mutual recognition today is not only a recognition of state sovereignty, but also a recognition of the sacrifices of many generations to live freely," Osmani wrote.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry said that the decision to recognize Kosovo "stems from Syria's belief in the right of peoples to self-determination and from its commitment to promoting the principles of peace and stability in the Balkans and in the world."
"This decision is part of Syria's policy aimed at expanding bridges of cooperation and openness towards friendly countries, in a way that serves common interests and strengthens the bonds of friendship between peoples," the ministry said in a statement on the Iks network.
Damascus "eagerly awaits" the establishment of diplomatic relations with Kosovo as soon as possible and the development of bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields, in order to serve the common interests of the two countries and two friendly peoples, it added.
For more than a decade, Syria has been among the world's most isolated countries, gripped by civil war, economic collapse and major international sanctions.
Since January this year, the country has been led by al-Shara, who led opposition fighters in the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, ending his family's five-decade rule.
How many countries recognize Kosovo?
Syria's decision is the third recognition of Kosovo's independence this year, after two African countries, Sudan and Kenya, previously recognized it.
These countries' recognitions follow a slowdown in the pace of recognition of Kosovo in recent years. Before them, the last country to recognize it was Israel in 2021.
Syria is the 120th country to recognize Kosovo, and the decision is expected to anger Serbia, which has long fought against its independence.
Serbia reacted angrily to Kosovo's latest recognitions, as it considers Kosovo part of its territory and it has been 17 years since its declaration of independence.
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