SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina
The World Basketball Federation, or FIBA, has granted full recognition to the Basketball Federation of Kosovo six-and-a-half years after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
The formal recognition will enable Kosovo to participate in the European Championship which will be held this summer with its independent national team.
Kosovo Basketball Federation President Erold Belegu said, in a statement released through social media, that Kosovo is FIBA's 215th member.
"Today, on March 13, 2015 Kosovo officially became the 215th National Member Federation of FIBA and 52th member of FIBA Europe. Congratulations to Kosovo!" said Belegu.
FIBA made the decision on Friday after a two-day meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.
Kosovo is the 215th Basketball Federation to be recognized by FIBA.
The International Olympic Committee, at its meeting in December 2014 in Monaco, accepted Kosovo as a full member. The Basketball Federation of Kosovo then appealed to FIBA on Feb. 5 for recognition.
Serbia was opposed to Kosovo becoming a member of FIBA because it does not recognize Kosovo's independence.
Kosovo has been recognized by 108 member states of the United Nations, but Serbia has refused to accept the breakaway province's independence.
