“The Kosovo foreign ministry has just received official information that the Republic of Malta has recognized Kosovo as an independent and sovereign country,” read a statement.

It added that the Maltese foreign ministry’s declaration of recognition had been submitted to Skender Hyseni, the man appointed by the Kosovo provincial authorities as its foreign policy chief.

Malta is the 46th country to recognize Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration, and the 21st EU member-state.

The only EU member-states not to have recognized Kosovo are Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus, Spain and Portugal.