• Population: 1,873,160

• Capital: Pristina (145,149pop.)

• Language: Albanian, Serbian

• Area: 10,887 km2 (4,203 sq mi)

• Climate: continental climate

HISTORY

Kosovo is Iowa’s newest sister states. Former Governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad, signed the agreement in 2013 with Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga.

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The relationship blossomed out of the State Partnership Program established between the Iowa National Guard and the Kosovo Security Force. Adjutant Major General Timothy Orr played a key role in promoting the partnership to sister state status.

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Three cities in Kosovo have established sister city relationships with cities in Iowa. The city of Peja entered into a sister city relationship with Johnston, Iowa in 2013. In 2016, Fort Dodge signed a sister city agreement with Gjakova in Kosovo. The City of Vushtrri recently entered into a sister city relationship with Norwalk, Iowa. There are also a few other cities in Iowa that are in the process of becoming sister cities. 

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The activity between Iowa and Kosovo is so robust that the Republic of Kosovo opened its first US Consulate in Des Moines in February of 2016.  This was also the first foreign consulate for the State of Iowa. 

COUNTRY COMMITTEE CHAIR

TODD JACOBUS