Croatia–Kosovo relations refer to the bilateral relations of

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

and

Kosovo Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...

. Diplomatic relations among two countries were established on 30 June 2008, following Kosovo's declaration of independence. Croatia has an embassy in

Pristina Pristina, ; sr, / (, ) is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. The city's municipal boundaries in Pristina District form the largest urban center in Kosovo. After Tirana, Pristina has the second largest population of ethnic Albanians an ...

, and Kosovo has an embassy in

Zagreb Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital and largest city of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb stands near the international border between Croatia and Slov ...

. Both countries were part of

Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (; sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Jugoslavija, Југославија ; sl, Jugoslavija ; mk, Југославија ;; rup, Iugoslavia; hu, Jugoszlávia; rue, label=Pannonian Rusyn, Югославия, translit=Juhoslavija ...

from 1918 to 1991. Relations between the two countries are described as very good and friendly.

Relations

Croatia recognised Kosovo on 19 March 2008. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 2008. On 7 November 2008 Croatia upgraded its liaison office in

to an embassy. On 19 February 2010 Kosovo opened its embassy in

. On 9 April 2015 Croatia and Kosovo signed a European partnership agreement that formalized the framework of their cooperation in the reform of Kosovo's institutions according to the European standards. Croatian and Kosovo state officials meet regularly. Croatia supported Kosovo at the

International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice (ICJ; french: Cour internationale de justice, links=no; ), sometimes known as the World Court, is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN). It settles disputes between states in accordanc ...

's oral debate on the legality of Kosovo's independence. On 27 September 2021 Croatian President

Zoran Milanović Zoran Milanović (; born 30 October 1966) is a Croatian politician serving as President of Croatia since 19 February 2020. Prior to assuming the presidency, he was prime minister from 2011 to 2016 and president of the Social Democratic Party f ...

supported Kosovo's dispute with Serbia over the new law that prohibited Serbian registered car plates to enter Kosovo without a having a temporarily Kosovo licensed car plate that would be registered upon its border with Serbia. Namely he said that: "Kosovo has responded with reciprocal measures to something Serbia has been doing for ten years. If you cannot go to Serbia with Kosovo license plates, then Kosovo can decide that the same applies to cars from Serbia,”.

Military

On 15 July 2008 the

Croatian Parliament The Croatian Parliament ( hr, Hrvatski sabor) or the Sabor is the unicameral legislature of the Republic of Croatia. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, the Sabor represents the people and is vested with legislative power. The Sab ...

approved Croatia's participation in the KFOR mission. Croatia sent the first contingent consisting of 20 soldiers and 2 Mil Mi-17 helicopters to Kosovo on 1 July 2009. On 25 September 2015 the Parliament decided that Croatia can send up to 35 soldiers and 2 helicopters to Kosovo. The basic task of the Croatian contingent is to transport KFOR forces, cargo, and VIPs. As of 2019, Croatia has 34 troops serving in Kosovo, which is the 30th contingent so far. 4th Prime Minister of Kosovo

Agim Çeku Agim Çeku ( sh, Agim Čeku, born 29 October 1960) is a Kosovan politician, the former minister of Security Forces in Kosovo and formerly the prime minister. Of military background, he was a commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) that f ...

participated in the Croatian War of Independence as a brigadier in the

Croatian Army The Croatian Army ( hr, Hrvatska kopnena vojska or HKoV) is the largest and most significant component of the Croatian Armed Forces (CAF). Role and deployment The fundamental role and purpose of the Croatian Army is to protect vital national i ...

. He regularly resides in

Zadar Zadar ( , ; historically known as Zara (from Venetian and Italian: ); see also other names), is the oldest continuously inhabited Croatian city. It is situated on the Adriatic Sea, at the northwestern part of Ravni Kotari region. Zadar ser ...

where he was a professor at a local military school between 1984 and 1990.

People

Kosovo is home to a community of around 300 ethnic Croats concentrated in the villages of Janjevo (

Janjevci Janjevci (, sq, Janjevët, sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Janjevci, Јањевци) or Kosovo Croats ( sq, Kroatët e Kosovës, sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Kosovski Hrvati, Косовски Хрвати) are the Croat community in Kosovo, i ...

), , Šašare, Vrnavokolo and Vrnez. Their ancestors, Croat merchants and miners from

Dubrovnik Dubrovnik (), historically known as Ragusa (; see notes on naming), is a city on the Adriatic Sea in the region of Dalmatia, in the southeastern semi-exclave of Croatia. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterran ...

and

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...

, settled in the area rich in silver and lead mines in the 14th century. The number of Albanians in Croatia is much larger. According to 2011 census, 17,513 Albanians live in Croatia, mostly from Kosovo and Macedonia.

References

External links

Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Kosovo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Croatian-Kosovan Relations

Bilateral relations of Kosovo

Relations

Military

People

See also

References

External links