Kosovo Opposition 'Secures Recognitions'

A leader of a Kosovo opposition party claims he has had success in securing two more recognitions of Kosovo's independence - from Qatar and the Maldives.

Behgjet Pacolli, the head of the Alliance for a New Kosova, said that during his stay in the United States, he was promised by senior officials from the two states that they would soon recognise Kosovo's independence.

“Kosovo is very soon to be recognized from Qatar and the Maldives and from three other states,” said Pacolli in an interview for the INA news agency.

“We are just waiting for an official move from these two states,” Pacolli said.

Qatar is an oil and gas-rich state located in the Gulf while the Maldives are an island chain popular with tourists lying south of India.

Both countries are predominantly Muslim.

Pristina has been lobbying hard to secure more recognitions from Muslim and Arab states, although the government has come under fire from opposition parties for the slow pace of recognitions.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008. The move was swiftly backed by the United States and its allies.

Until now, Kosovo has been recognised by 53 countries around the world, 22 of which are part of the European Union.