Republic of Kosovo

Bilateral relationship

New Zealand's relations with Kosovo are limited.  The Kosovar community in NewZealand is small with most of the 400-plus community based in Auckland.  Most of this community arrived in NewZealand in mid-1999 at the height of the hostilities within that region of the former Yugoslavia.  

Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008.  Kosovo’s first Ambassador to NewZealand (resident in London) presented his Credentials to the Governor General in February 2010.

 

Key facts

Geography/Demographics

Land Area: 10,908 sq km
Population: 1.8 million (2007 est)
Capital City: Pristina
Languages: Albanian (official), Serbian (official), Bosnian, Turkish, Roma

Political

Political system: Democratic Parliamentary Republic
National government: The government consists of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Cabinet of Ministers.
National legislature: Unicameral National Assembly (120 seats; 100 seats directly elected, 10 seats guaranteed for ethnic Serbs, 10 seats guaranteed for other ethnic minorities; to serve four year terms); Prime Minister is elected by the Kosovo Assembly; Cabinet Ministers elected by the Kosovo Assembly
Last election: 9 January 2008 (Presidential); 17 November 2007(Parliamentary)
Next election: 2013 (Presidential); 2011 (Parliamentary)
Head of State: President Fatmir Sejdiu (since 10 February 2006)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hashim Thaci (since 9 January 2008)

Economic (2007 est)

GDP: $US5 billion
GDP per capita: $US2,300
Real GDP growth: 5.1%
Exports: US$527 million
Imports: US$2.6 billion
Main exports: Mining and processed metal products, scrap metals, leather products, machinery, appliances
Main imports: Foodstuffs, wood, petroleum, chemicals, machinery and electrical equipment
Current account deficit: US$964 million
Inflation: 5.3%
Unemployment: 40%
Currency: Euro (the UN Mission in Kosovo declared the Euro to be the official currency in 2001; prior to that the Deutschmark had been the de facto currency).  Kosovo joined the International Monetary Fund and the WorldBank on 26June 2009 

New Zealand Trade (2009)

NZ Exports (FOB): Not separately recorded, but likely less than $1 million
NZ Imports (CIF): Not separately recorded, but likely less than $NZ1 million

 

Representation

• The Kosovo Ambassador in London is accredited to New Zealand.
  
  
• New Zealand does not have a diplomatic accreditation to Kosovo.

Travel advice

The Safe Travel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Kosovo [external link].

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