Kosovo and Israel agree to implement visa-free travel from September

Kosovar foreign minister says move will further cooperation, economic development, and the implementation of joint initiatives

By SYLEJMAN KLLOKOQI and LLAZAR SEMINI 18 June 2024, 6:41 pm

Edit

Illustrative: A Kosovo government official takes a self-photo during a signing ceremony held digitally, in the capital Pristina, establishing diplomatic ties between Kosovo and Israel, February 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Citizens of Kosovo and Israel will be able to visit the other nation without a visa following an agreement between the two governments signed Tuesday, the Kosovar Foreign Ministry said.

The visa waiver agreement was signed in the Kosovar capital, Pristina, by visiting Interior Minister Moshe Arbel and Kosovar Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla.

Gervalla said the 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.”

The visa waiver will go into effect in September. No details on the length of stay were given.

This year, Kosovars can also enjoy visa-free stays of up to 90 days -– within six months -– in any of the 27 Schengen-area member states in Europe.

Kosovo and Israel formally established diplomatic ties in February 2021. Israel is the 117th country to recognize Kosovo.

Illustrative: A Kosovo police officer walks across a red carpet prior to a ceremony held digitally, in the capital Pristina, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021. Kosovo and Israel formally have established diplomatic ties in a ceremony held digitally due to the pandemic lockdown. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo’s independence from Serbia in 2008, nine years after a United States-led 78-day NATO airstrike campaign against Serbia to stop a bloody crackdown against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, is recognized by most Western nations, but not by Serbia and its allies Russia and China.

The government of former US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in late 2017 and moved the US Embassy there in May 2018.

Kosovo was the first European country, and the first country with a Muslim majority, to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, following the US and Guatemala. An opening ceremony was held in March 2021.