Third Embassy in Jerusalem - Kosovo has also opened a mission: "Great honor" | Israel today

The small Balkan country that only a month ago established diplomatic relations with Israel will open its embassy in the capital in a ceremony attended by senior Foreign Ministry officials

• Kosovo Ambassador to Jerusalem

Third Embassy in Jerusalem.

Ines Demiri, the first Kosovo ambassador to Israel, officially inaugurated the compound in the center of the capital.

In a Twitter message, she wrote that "opening the embassy and proudly serving my country in Israel is the great honor of my life."

The official opening ceremony of the embassy will be held tomorrow, in the presence of senior Foreign Ministry officials.

In this way, Kosovo joins the United States and Guatemala, which moved their embassies to the Israeli capital about three years ago, and is also the first Muslim country to do so. 

The establishment of ties between Israel and Kosovo is an outgrowth of the Abrahamic agreements, which began during President Trump's tenure.

Israel has so far refrained from recognizing Kosovo due to a long list of reasons.

One of the reasons for the sensitivity regarding the recognition of Kosovo is the desire not to confront Serbia, Kosovo's historical rival, which is supposed to open an embassy in Jerusalem in the coming months.

The Foreign Ministry stated yesterday that Serbia had made it clear to Israel that it was committed to announcing the relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem.

In an extraordinary ceremony a month ago, Israel and the small Balkan country of Kosovo established diplomatic ties between them.

Foreign Minister Ashkenazi said that "the establishment of relations between Israel and Kosovo is an important and exciting historical step, reflecting the many changes the region has experienced in recent months." 

Kosovo Foreign Minister Melissa Hardinai, speaking from the Foreign Ministry in Przemyśl, said that "Israel is becoming the 117th country to recognize Kosovo as an independent state, and this would not have been possible without the US blessing and strong support."