Serbia, Kosovo normalize economic ties, gesture to Israel
CGTN
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and the head of government of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2020. /Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and the head of government of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2020. /Reuters

President Donald Trump announced Friday that Serbia and Kosovo have agreed to normalize economic ties as part of U.S.-brokered talks that include Belgrade moving its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, and mutual recognition between Israel and Kosovo.

After two days of meetings with Trump administration officials, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the head of government of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti agreed to cooperate on a range of economic fronts to attract investment and create jobs. 

"I'm pleased to announce a truly historic commitment," Trump said in the Oval Office, standing alongside the two leaders. "Serbia and Kosovo have each committed to economic normalization."

"After a violent and tragic history and years of failed negotiations, my administration proposed a new way of bridging the divide. By focusing on job creation and economic growth, the two countries were able to reach a major breakthrough," the president said.

In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo its own province.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's press office announced Israel's recognition of Kosovo, a predominantly Muslim country, on Friday, making Israel the 98th UN member state to recognize the former Serbian province. Kosovo, in turn, will recognize Israel as a nation.

Additionally, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic agreed to move his country's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Serbia has committed to open a commercial office in Jerusalem this month and move its embassy there in July, Trump said.

Serbia's decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a nod to both Israel and the United States. The Trump administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in late 2017 and moved the U.S. embassy there in May 2018.

 Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the president of Serbia for moving the embassy to Jerusalem. 

"Kosovo will be the first majority-Muslim country to open an embassy in Jerusalem," Netanyahu said. "As I've said in recent days, the circle of peace and recognition of Israeli is widening and is expected to add additional countries."

In all, a total of four countries now recognize contested Jerusalem as Israel's capital, including the U.S. and Guatemala. The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as their would-be capital.

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The announcement provided Trump with a diplomatic win ahead of the November presidential election and furthers his administration's push to improve Israel's international standing.

Last month, Trump mediated a deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that saw the UAE drop its decades-long boycott against Israel in exchange for a halt on the construction of Israeli settlements in the Palestinian West Bank.

The administration has encouraged other countries to do the same but has been widely criticized by the Palestinians and many in Europe because the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains unresolved.

(With input from agencies)