It is rare for a resolution by an international body to satisfy both sides in any dispute in South Eastern Europe, but a resolution on Kosovo by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) appears to have achieved just that.
 
After lobbying, the resolution – initiated by Albania and formally tabled by Saudi Arabia – did not call for further recognitions but did pay tribute to Kosovo’s progress "towards strengthening democracy, by serving peace and stability in the country and region" and expressed support for Kosovo’s development.
 
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. Belgrade, which strenuously objects to the declaration, has won United Nations General Assembly backing to refer the matter to the World Court for an opinion on the validity of the independence declaration.
 
On May 26 2009, Kosovo president Fatmir Sejdiu and prime minister Hashim Thaci said that the resolution would pave the way for further recognitions of Kosovo’s independence.
 
Kosovo media reports said that Sejdiu described the resolution as recognition of the positive realities and developments in Kosovo.
 
Thaci, thanking the countries that are supporting the state of Kosovo, said that the document adopted by the OIC was a great impetus and clear message for countries that have not yet recognised Kosovo to do so in the near future.
 
"We’re very grateful to all the states that support the state of Kosovo. Even though only 13 of the Islamic Conference’s 57 states have recognized Kosovo’s independence so far, the adoption of this resolution with a consensus is a clear message and a further, greater encouragement to all these countries to recognize the Republic of Kosovo in the near future," Thaci said.
 
Reaction in the Kosovo media was mixed, Serbian news website B92 said. While some welcomed the resolution, others bemoaned the absence of a call for further recognitions.
 
Radio Srbija reported the political director of the Serbian foreign ministry, Borislav Stefanovic, as saying that the final form of the resolution meant that a new surge of recognition of Kosovo had been prevented.
 
"He told the press that Serbia had prepared well and managed to stop another attempt at curbing its territorial integrity," Radio Srbija said.