The Serbian president explains why Syria recognized Kosovo’s independence
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that Syria’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence was not surprising, attributing the decision to the significant influence of Türkiye on the current Syrian government.
In remarks to reporters during his visit to Uzbekistan, Vucic explained that Syria’s recognition was entirely expected, as it has become clear that the current Syrian leadership is under the influence of Ankara, adding that this development reflects Damascus’s new political orientation.
On Wednesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry announced its official recognition of the Republic of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state, making it one of the latest countries to join the list of those recognizing Kosovo since its unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008.
The Serbian president noted that Damascus’s recognition of Kosovo coincided with Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric’s visit to Riyadh, pointing out a similarity to a year earlier when Sudan announced its recognition of Kosovo during the Serbian minister’s visit to Antalya, Türkiye.
Vucic said, “We observe a recurring pattern in these situations; it seems that some countries make their sensitive political decisions during periods of strong Turkish diplomatic influence”.
In turn, Kosovo President Voja Osmani thanked the Syrian government for the recognition, and extended special thanks to Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their support of what she described as a historic step towards strengthening Kosovo’s sovereignty on the international stage.
Last October, Vucic called on the United Nations to intervene to stop Türkiye from delivering drones to the Kosovo authorities, warning that this move represents a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a threat to the stability of the Western Balkans region.
The Serbian president added at the time that Ankara is working to strengthen its influence in the region and seeks to revive the glories of the Ottoman Empire, noting that Türkiye’s arming of Pristina threatens the regional balance and undermines the chances for peace.
