Kosovo Uses Sport In Diplomatic Joust With Serbia

PRISTINA, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Dec, 2016 ) - Belgrade rejects its claim to independence and Russia blocks it from joining the United Nations, but Kosovo is fighting back for its place on the international stage through sport.

"Great news!", Kosovo President Hashim Thaci tweeted on May 13 when world football's governing body FIFA, following UEFA's example, accepted Kosovo into the fold much to Serbia's displeasure. Rather than addressing Kosovo's 1.8 million people in their native Albanian, Thaci tweeted in English in a message designed for international consumption.

The president followed up with another tweet in English on September 5 when Kosovo scored their first international goal against Finland in a 1-1 2018 World Cup qualifier draw. "Generations of players feel so proud after decades of isolation! Best of our country is yet to come!" he said.

Thaci also hit the tweet button to promote Kosovo's Olympic debut. "Majlinda brings home Kosovo's first Olympic Golden Medal," he wrote after Majlinda Kelmendi won judo gold at Kosovo's first Olympic Games in August in Rio.

Unbowed by Russia's block on joining the United Nations, Thaci said in 2014 that his country's membership of the Olympic movement was already "a form of UN membership." As is the case whenever a new country joins the 111 Kosovo says have officially recognised its independence unilaterally declared in 2008, Belgrade reacts angrily when a sports federation approves Pristina as a new member.

Serbia obstinately refuses to recognise Kosovo's independence and its claim to sovereignty over its former province is enshrined in the country's constitution.