MALAYSIA ESTABLISHES FORMAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH KOSOVO

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- Beginning March 18, Malaysia has established formal relations with Kosovo.
In a statement here Thursday, the foreign ministry said the Malaysian Embassy in Rome, Italy was now accredited to Kosovo.
On Feb 17, 2008, Kosovo had unilaterally declared its independence and Malaysia recognised Kosova on Oct 30, the same year.
Currently, 75 countries have recognised Kosovo's independence and 18 countries have opened their embassies in its capital, Pristina.
"The establishment of the formal relationship is timely as it will help strenghthen bilateral ties and people-to-people relationship between the two countries," the statement added.
It said, between 2000 and 2008, Malaysia had established a liaison office in Kosovo which was accredited to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
Since 1999, Malaysia had deployed 270 police officers under the
International Peacekeeping Force of UNMIK.
However, following Kosovo's independence, Malaysia closed its liaison office in Pristina, the capital and largest city of Kosovo.