New Delhi: After the Kosovo government supported the opening of a commercial office in New Delhi, India on Friday, November 25, indicated that it was a one-sided move and that there was no plan to recognise the European territory.Earlier this month, Indian news agency ANI reported that an India Kosovo Commerce Economic Office was opened “in association” with the Kosovar ministry of foreign affairs.Ten days later, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi issued a statement: “It is reiterated that our position on Kosovo is well known, and there is no change in it.”According to official sources, there is no bilateral element or reciprocity in this matter.Since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, India has steadfastly refused to recognise it as a separate state. It had claimed that Kosovo did not fulfil the three principles required for recognition – “a defined territory, a duly constituted Government in charge which is accepted by the people and which has effective control over an area of governance”.Further, India has, “on Serbia’s request”, opposed Kosovo’s membership of international bodies, UNESCO, Apostille Convention, Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, and Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units.When external affairs minister S. Jaishankar visited Serbia in 2019, he asserted that India’s non-recognition of Kosovo was a “very principled position because it pertains to support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country and a friendly country, a country with whom we have a long-standing relationship”.It is not known whether India’s statement issued on Friday was the result of any clarification sought from another country about the status of the trade office.While India has not articulated it publicly, New Delhi’s view is coloured by the perception that Kosovo could act as a precedent for Kashmir. Last year, Kosovar president Vjosa Osmani even told an Indian news channel that no parallel should be drawn between Kashmir and Kosovo.Just like Kosovo, India has refused to recognise Taiwan in line with its ‘One China policy’. In 1995, they established representative offices on a reciprocal basis – Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India (TECC) in New Delhi and India-Taipei Association (ITA) for India in Taipei. Senior diplomats from both sides lead these bodies.While these are not full-fledged missions, they act as de-facto embassies, issuing visas and conducting consular duties.In contrast, the India Kosovo Commerce Economic Office is not being run by any government officer from Kosovo but is instead headed by a private citizen.
