 Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008 and Malaysia recognised it on 30 October 2008.Since 1999, immediately after Kosovo became an international protectorate, Malaysia agreed to send peacekeepers as part of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.Later that year, in September, Malaysia began to make plans for "a centre to coordinate medical relief aid and missions to help Kosovo war victims," and began raising funds for assistance to Kosovo.