Tallinn  - Estonia and Kosovo are scheduled to establish diplomatic relations Thursday.

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Rame Manaj and Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet are scheduled to sign the protocol establishing diplomatic relations in the Estonian capital Tallinn.

Estonia is to become the first of the three Baltic States to establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo.

The Baltic nation recognized Kosovo's independence on February 21, days after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17.

Kosovo has been formally recognized by 36 countries, of which Albania, Austria, Britain, Germany, Switzerland and the United States have opened embassies in Kosovo's capital Pristina. (dpa)