PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Citizens of Kosovo and Israel will soon be able to travel to each other’s countries without a visa, following an agreement signed by the two governments on Tuesday. The visa waiver agreement was formalized in Pristina by Kosovar Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla and visiting Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel.
A New Chapter in Bilateral Relations
Foreign Minister Gervalla hailed the agreement as a significant step in enhancing bilateral relations. “This agreement will open a new chapter in promoting our country, our cooperation and economic development, youngsters’ educational development, and the implementation of joint initiatives and projects between our citizens and our countries in the future,” she stated. The visa-free travel arrangement will take effect in September, though specific details on the length of permitted stays were not disclosed.
Expanding Kosovo’s Visa-Free Travel Opportunities
This agreement follows a significant milestone for Kosovars earlier this year, which allows them to enjoy visa-free stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period in the 27 Schengen-area member states in Europe.
Strengthening Diplomatic Ties
Kosovo and Israel established formal diplomatic relations in February 2021, with Israel becoming the 117th country to recognize Kosovo’s independence. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, nine years after a NATO-led intervention halted a violent crackdown by Serbian forces on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. While Kosovo’s independence is recognized by most Western nations, Serbia and its allies, Russia and China, do not recognize it.
Historical Context and Diplomatic Milestones
The establishment of diplomatic ties between Kosovo and Israel includes Kosovo’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. In March 2021, Kosovo became the first European country and the first Muslim-majority country to open an embassy in Jerusalem, following the United States and Guatemala. This move came after the US, under former President Donald Trump, recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocated its embassy there in 2018.
The visa waiver agreement signifies a deepening of the relationship between Kosovo and Israel, fostering greater cooperation and exchange between their citizens.