France–Kosovo relations
Encyclopedia
French–Kosovan relations refer to the bilateral relations between France
and the Republic of Kosovo
. When Kosovo
declared its independence
from Serbia
in 17 February 2008, France became one of the first countries to announce officially about recognition of sovereign Kosovo. France has an embassy in Pristina
. Kosovo has an embassy in Paris
.
Bernard Kouchner
was the first UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Kosovo when the United Nations
took over from Serbia in June 1999 in administration of the territory. This involvement, both civilian and military, has continued ever since, promoting democratisation, compliance with the rights of all communities and especially the Serbian community, now very much a minority, and a Europe
an rapprochement. France's presence has remained quite considerable within UNMIK and KFOR, with more than 2,000 soldiers out of a total of 16,000 (i.e. the second-largest contingent).
From a political standpoint, as a member of the Contact Group, France has played a key role in the negotiations on Kosovo's status and, within the European Union
, to reach a consensus on the deployment of the EULEX
mission. Mr. Bernard Kouchner has been very involved in the search for an agreement, relaying the actions of the French President, who had proposed during the G8
summit in July 2008
designating the troika tasked with restarting a final phase of negotiations between Belgrade
and Pristina
in August 2007. In particular, the minister went to the two parties in July 2007, before receiving his Serbian counterpart and the Kosovan negotiation team (President, Prime Minister and heads of the main parties) in Paris
in November, to encourage them to compromise.
Learning a lesson from the impossibility of reaching a negotiated solution, France recognised Kosovo's independence on 18 February.
France intends to pursue its actions promoting stability in the Balkans
and the development of Kosovo. The French KFOR contingent, tasked with the country's security, will be maintained. KFOR is led by French General
Xavier Bout de Marnhac
until September 2008. France will send a large contingent of police officers, judges, judicial experts, and prison and customs staff to the EULEX mission, which will be led by one of its compatriots, Mr. Yves de Kermabon. Finally, France will continue its involvement in the International Steering Group, tasked with watching over the implementation of the provisions of the Ahtisaari plan
.
, which resulted in a UN administration of Kosovo and then to eventual independence. France currently has 1,368 troops serving in Kosovo as peacekeepers in the NATO led Kosovo Force. Originally there was 7,000 French troops in KFOR. Marcel Valentin was the 6th KFOR Commander from 3 October, 2001 - 4 October, 2002. Yves de Kermabon was the 9th KFOR Commander from 1 September, 2004 - 1 September, 2005. Also Xavier de Marnhac was the 12th KFOR Commander from 31 August, 2007 - 29 August, 2008.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Republic of Kosovo
Republic of Kosovo
Kosovo , officially the Republic of Kosovo is a partially recognised state and a disputed territory in the Balkans...
. When Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
declared its independence
2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was adopted on 17 February 2008 by individual members of the Assembly of Kosovo acting in personal capacity and not binding to the Assembly itself...
from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
in 17 February 2008, France became one of the first countries to announce officially about recognition of sovereign Kosovo. France has an embassy in Pristina
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
. Kosovo has an embassy in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Political relations
For many years, France has played an important role in finding a solution to the issue of Kosovo's status. Accordingly, French Minister of Foreign and European AffairsMinister of Foreign Affairs (France)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ), is France's foreign affairs ministry, with the headquarters located on the Quai d'Orsay in Paris close to the National Assembly of France. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the government of France is the cabinet minister responsible for...
Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner is a French politician, diplomat, and doctor. He is co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde...
was the first UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Kosovo when the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
took over from Serbia in June 1999 in administration of the territory. This involvement, both civilian and military, has continued ever since, promoting democratisation, compliance with the rights of all communities and especially the Serbian community, now very much a minority, and a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an rapprochement. France's presence has remained quite considerable within UNMIK and KFOR, with more than 2,000 soldiers out of a total of 16,000 (i.e. the second-largest contingent).
From a political standpoint, as a member of the Contact Group, France has played a key role in the negotiations on Kosovo's status and, within the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, to reach a consensus on the deployment of the EULEX
European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo
The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX Kosovo, is a deployment of European Union police and civilian resources to Kosovo...
mission. Mr. Bernard Kouchner has been very involved in the search for an agreement, relaying the actions of the French President, who had proposed during the G8
G8
The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
summit in July 2008
34th G8 summit
The 34th G8 summit took place in on the northern island of Hokkaidō, Japan from July 7–9, 2008. The locations of previous summits to have been hosted by Japan include: Tokyo ; and Nago, Okinawa . The G8 Summit has evolved beyond being a gathering of world political leaders...
designating the troika tasked with restarting a final phase of negotiations between Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
and Pristina
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
in August 2007. In particular, the minister went to the two parties in July 2007, before receiving his Serbian counterpart and the Kosovan negotiation team (President, Prime Minister and heads of the main parties) in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in November, to encourage them to compromise.
Learning a lesson from the impossibility of reaching a negotiated solution, France recognised Kosovo's independence on 18 February.
France intends to pursue its actions promoting stability in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
and the development of Kosovo. The French KFOR contingent, tasked with the country's security, will be maintained. KFOR is led by French General
Military of France
The French Armed Forces encompass the French Army, the French Navy, the French Air Force and the National Gendarmerie. The President of the Republic heads the armed forces, with the title "chef des armées" . The President is the supreme authority for military matters and is the sole official who...
Xavier Bout de Marnhac
Xavier Bout de Marnhac
Lieutenant General Xavier Bout de Marnhac is a French military commander and former head of the Kosovo Force .-Source:* -External links:* from French Government website...
until September 2008. France will send a large contingent of police officers, judges, judicial experts, and prison and customs staff to the EULEX mission, which will be led by one of its compatriots, Mr. Yves de Kermabon. Finally, France will continue its involvement in the International Steering Group, tasked with watching over the implementation of the provisions of the Ahtisaari plan
Ahtisaari Plan
The Ahtisaari Plan, formally the Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement , is a status settlement proposal covering a wide range of issues related to the Kosovo status process for kosovo....
.
Military
France participated in the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999...
, which resulted in a UN administration of Kosovo and then to eventual independence. France currently has 1,368 troops serving in Kosovo as peacekeepers in the NATO led Kosovo Force. Originally there was 7,000 French troops in KFOR. Marcel Valentin was the 6th KFOR Commander from 3 October, 2001 - 4 October, 2002. Yves de Kermabon was the 9th KFOR Commander from 1 September, 2004 - 1 September, 2005. Also Xavier de Marnhac was the 12th KFOR Commander from 31 August, 2007 - 29 August, 2008.