London: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) provisionally recognised Kosovo on Wednesday, paving the way for Serbia’s former province to take part in the 2016 Rio Games.
The IOC board proposed a full recognition of Kosovo at the General Assembly in December in Monaco.
Kosovo, with its majority Albanian population, declared independence in 2008, nine years after Nato ousted Belgrade’s forces from the territory to halt ethnic bloodshed.
Though it agreed to normalise ties with its breakaway province in order to launch EU membership talks in January, Serbia still claims sovereignty over Kosovo and opposes any steps that lead it further to full-fledged independence.
Serbia’s ally, Russia, has so far blocked Kosovo’s promotion in the United Nations, which Serbian officials insisted was a pre-condition for IOC recognition.
Serbian representatives in the IOC opposed the recognition proposal. The national committee said “sharply condemned” the measure and lodged a protest.
The IOC executive board said that recognition was granted “in the interests of the athletes in Kosovo and to remove any uncertainty they may have.”
“It will allow them to take part in qualifications for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and in future editions of the games,” the IOC said.
Kosovo Sport Minister Memli Krasniqi welcomed the decision and said that Kosovo had become a full member of the IOC.
