EU urges Serbia and Kosovo to respect their pledges after a meeting of leaders ends in acrimony
1 year, 3 months ago

EU urges Serbia and Kosovo to respect their pledges after a meeting of leaders ends in acrimony

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — The European Union on Tuesday called on Serbia and Kosovo to respect an agreement meant to end tensions between them and put their relations on a more normal path after talks between their leaders ended in acrimony last week. At a meeting in New York, EU foreign ministers said the commitments that Serbia and Kosovo made in the pact they sealed in February “are binding on them and play a role in the European path of the parties,” which refers to their chances of joining the 27-nation bloc. The EU has tried to help them improve ties by supervising a “Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.” At a round of meetings in June, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic refused to meet face-to-face. After the latest meetings in Brussels on September 14 -– when the two actually did sit down at the same table -– EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell blamed Kurti for the breakdown by insisting that Serbia should take steps toward recognizing Kosovo before progress could be made. In an email response to questions from The Associated Press, the U.S. State Department said: “We thank and recognize the tireless efforts of EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak.” Kurti — a longtime Kosovo independence activist who spent time in prisons in both Serbia and Kosovo — has frustrated the Europeans and proven difficult for negotiators to work with since he became prime minister in 2021.

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History of this topic

Kosovo FA says it warned UEFA about possible provocation by Romania fans
1 month, 1 week ago

Kosovo FA says it warned UEFA about possible provocation by Romania fans

The Hindu  

The Football Federation of Kosovo said it had repeatedly warned European football’s governing body UEFA about potential provocation from Romania fans ahead of Friday’s Nations League match, which was abandoned when Kosovo’s players walked off. READ: Cristiano Ronaldo scores 910th goal of his career for Portugal vs Poland in UEFA Nations League “FFK had warned the relevant UEFA bodies more …

Serbia demands new elections in tense north Kosovo as well as return of Serb police and judiciary
3 months, 1 week ago

Serbia demands new elections in tense north Kosovo as well as return of Serb police and judiciary

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia on Friday demanded that an election be held and ethnic Serbs return to police and judiciary in a Serb-populated northern region of Kosovo where tensions have fueled fears of instability and new armed clashes. Populist President Aleksandar Vucic also called for the withdrawal of Kosovo’s special police from the region bordering Serbia that remains a flashpoint …

EU envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to resume efforts to normalize ties through talks
3 months, 2 weeks ago

EU envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to resume efforts to normalize ties through talks

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The European Union envoy for the Western Balkans on Friday urged Kosovo and Serbia to step up their efforts at normalization talks, saying these are decisive toward the two countries’ membership in the bloc. The EU and the United States are pressing both sides to implement agreements that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin …

Serbia FA threatens to quit Euros if UEFA does not punish Croats and Albanians over chants
6 months ago

Serbia FA threatens to quit Euros if UEFA does not punish Croats and Albanians over chants

The Hindu  

Serbia soccer officials threatened to quit the European Championship after they were offended by fan chants reportedly heard during the Albania-Croatia match. We don’t want to participate in that, but if UEFA doesn’t punish them, we will think about how to proceed.” In a separate statement on Thursday, the Serbia FA condemned the “shameful racist behavior” of the Albanian and …

Serbia FA threatens to quit Euros if UEFA does not punish Croats and Albanians over chants
6 months ago

Serbia FA threatens to quit Euros if UEFA does not punish Croats and Albanians over chants

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia soccer officials threatened their team could quit the European Championship after they were offended by fan chants reportedly heard during the Albania-Croatia match. A disciplinary inspector was appointed, UEFA said, “to conduct an investigation regarding potential racist and/or discriminatory conduct by supporters that allegedly occurred.” UEFA gave no timeline for the case, which is unlikely to …

Kosovo marks the 25th anniversary of its liberation, when Serb forces withdrew after NATO bombing
6 months, 1 week ago

Kosovo marks the 25th anniversary of its liberation, when Serb forces withdrew after NATO bombing

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo on Wednesday celebrated what it considers a liberation day, marking the 25th anniversary of the withdrawal of Serb forces. During the 1998-1999 war with ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army separatists, Serbian forces failed to meet Western demands on reconciliation, which pushed NATO to launch a 78-day bombing campaign against Serbia that resulted in its withdrawal. But …

Kosovo celebrates 25th anniversary of the withdrawal of Serbian forces after NATO bombing
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Kosovo celebrates 25th anniversary of the withdrawal of Serbian forces after NATO bombing

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo on Monday celebrated the 25th anniversary of the withdrawal of Serbian forces following a 78-day NATO bombing campaign, which opened the way for its independence nine years later. About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died and about 1 million were deported until the NATO bombing resulted in the Serbian withdrawal and the establishment of an international …

Kosovo criticizes Council of Europe for not holding a vote on its membership, blames Serbia lobbying
7 months ago

Kosovo criticizes Council of Europe for not holding a vote on its membership, blames Serbia lobbying

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo on Friday criticized the Council of Europe ‘s decision against holding a vote on its membership, saying it deprived its people and especially its ethnic minorities of democratic tools offered by the continent’s top human rights body. Kosovo’s membership was not on the agenda of the council’s foreign ministers meeting after some members had required Kosovo …

Kosovo makes last-minute push to get its membership in Council of Europe approved in a Friday vote
7 months, 1 week ago

Kosovo makes last-minute push to get its membership in Council of Europe approved in a Friday vote

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The government of Kosovo is making a last-minute effort to convince Western powers to vote on whether to admit the country as a new member in the Council of Europe, the continent’s top human rights body. Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz in a letter Thursday to Theodoros Rousopoulos, the head of the Council of Europe’s Parliament Assembly, said …

Kosovo prime minister deplores new condition ahead of Council of Europe’s membership vote next week
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Kosovo prime minister deplores new condition ahead of Council of Europe’s membership vote next week

Associated Press  

TIRANA, Albania — Kosovo’s prime minister Wednesday deplored the fact that some Western powers reportedly have set another condition ahead of Kosovo’s joining the Council of Europe. Kosovo media reported that France and Germany want Kosovo to take a significant step toward establishing an association of its Serb-majority municipalities in the north to unblock a vote of full membership a …

Kosovo backs Ukraine even though Kyiv has not recognized its independence, foreign minister says
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Kosovo backs Ukraine even though Kyiv has not recognized its independence, foreign minister says

Associated Press  

WARSAW, Poland — Kosovo’s foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine for conflict not to spread further in Europe. She said her young nation’s support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo’s independence. “Ukraine hasn’t recognized the Republic of Kosovo as a state, but we really …

Senior US official travels to Kosovo to revive Kosovo-Serbia talks after tensions over currency
9 months, 1 week ago

Senior US official travels to Kosovo to revive Kosovo-Serbia talks after tensions over currency

Associated Press  

TIRANA, Albania — A senior U.S. official on Tuesday said he would be visiting Kosovo in the next days to put “back on track” talks on normalizing ties between Kosovo and Serbia, after tensions escalated over Kosovo’s decision to ban the use of the Serbian dinar. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar said he would discuss with Kosovo authorities …

Kosovo OKs referendums in 4 Serb-majority municipalities on whether to oust ethnic Albanian mayors
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Kosovo OKs referendums in 4 Serb-majority municipalities on whether to oust ethnic Albanian mayors

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo’s Central Electoral Commission on Saturday approved referendums in four Serb-majority municipalities to be held on April 21 on whether to oust their ethnic Albanian mayors whose election last year raised tensions between Serbia and Kosovo. The commission also confirmed a petition held in January in which about one-fourth of around 45,000 eligible voters in four municipalities …

Thousands of minority Serbs protest Kosovo’s decision to abolish the Serbian dinar
10 months, 1 week ago

Thousands of minority Serbs protest Kosovo’s decision to abolish the Serbian dinar

Associated Press  

MITROVICA, Kosovo — Thousands of minority Serbs in Kosovo on Monday protested a ban on the use of the Serbian currenc y in areas where they live, an issue that is proviking the latest crisis in relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Tensions escalated after the government of Kosovo, a former Serbian province, banned banks and other financial institutions in the …

Leaders of Serbia and Kosovo spar at the UN over the latter's ban of the Serbian dinar
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Leaders of Serbia and Kosovo spar at the UN over the latter's ban of the Serbian dinar

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. He said it was “nothing …

Serbia will seek a UN Security Council meeting over latest escalation of tensions with Kosovo
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Serbia will seek a UN Security Council meeting over latest escalation of tensions with Kosovo

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia will seek an urgent U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss the escalation of tensions with its former province of Kosovo after its government decided to ban the use of the Serbian dinar and introduce the euro in areas where minority Serbs live, Serbia’s president said Friday. But parts of Kosovo’s north, populated mostly by ethnic Serbs, …

Serbia will seek a UN Security Council meeting over latest escalation of tensions with Kosovo
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Serbia will seek a UN Security Council meeting over latest escalation of tensions with Kosovo

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Serbia will seek an urgent …

The European Union calls on Kosovo to delay requiring ethnic Serbians to use euros instead of dinars
10 months, 3 weeks ago

The European Union calls on Kosovo to delay requiring ethnic Serbians to use euros instead of dinars

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The European Union on Thursday called on Kosovo to postpone an effort to force ethnic Serbian-dominated areas to adopt the euro currency like in the rest of the country, as rules that would block use of the Serbian dinar went into effect. An EU statement expressed concern “about the consequences … on the daily lives of Kosovo …

Kosovo will impose the use of the euro in minority Serb areas, concerning Western powers
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Kosovo will impose the use of the euro in minority Serb areas, concerning Western powers

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo authorities on Wednesday said they would impose the use of the country’s currency, the euro, and abolish the use of neighboring Serbia’s dinar in the north where most of the ethnic Serb minority lives. Kosovo’s Central Bank Governor Ahmet Ismaili said starting Thursday, new rules on local transactions in euros would be applied in the northern …

EU envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to step up normalization efforts before the bloc’s June elections
10 months, 3 weeks ago

EU envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to step up normalization efforts before the bloc’s June elections

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The EU envoy for the Western Balkans on Tuesday urged Kosovo and Serbia to push ahead with faltering normalization talks before elections for the European Parliament in June. Miroslav Lajcak met for three hours with Kosovo’s top leaders — President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi — in the capital Pristina …

Serbia considers reintroducing a mandatory military draft as regional tensions simmer
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Serbia considers reintroducing a mandatory military draft as regional tensions simmer

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia is considering reintroducing compulsory military service, its president said Tuesday, citing tensions in the Balkans and elsewhere in Europe. President Aleksandar Vucic said top army commanders gave him “a strong argumentation” in favor of the reintroduction of a mandatory draft, which was suspended in 2011 in a push to professionalize the armed forces. “As well as …

Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo hold a petition drive in hopes of ousting 4 ethnic Albanian mayors
11 months ago

Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo hold a petition drive in hopes of ousting 4 ethnic Albanian mayors

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo held a signature drive Wednesday in hopes of securing enough to oust four ethnic Albanian mayors whose elections last year sent tensions between Serbia and Kosovo soaring. The drive is expected to start soon Zvecan and Zubin Potok, two other municipalities in the north where most of Kosovo’s ethnic Serb minority lives. …

Serbia’s army proposes bringing back the draft as tensions continue to rise in the Balkans
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Serbia’s army proposes bringing back the draft as tensions continue to rise in the Balkans

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia should reintroduce compulsory military service, the defense ministry said Thursday, as tensions continue to escalate in the Balkans. The ministry said in a statement that the proposal for service of up to four months is made “in order to increase the defense capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces, through the rejuvenation and improvement in the training …

Albania’s prime minister calls for more NATO troops in neighboring Kosovo following ethnic violence
1 year, 1 month ago

Albania’s prime minister calls for more NATO troops in neighboring Kosovo following ethnic violence

Associated Press  

SKOPJE, North Macedonia — Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama urged NATO on Wednesday to further boost its military forces in Kosovo and secure the country’s borders with Serbia, warning that recent ethnic violence in Kosovo could potentially trigger a wider Balkan conflict. Kosovo’s border with Serbia was “out of control,” Rama said after an informal meeting of Western Balkan NATO …

NATO head says violence in Kosovo unacceptable while calling for constructive dialogue with Serbia
1 year, 1 month ago

NATO head says violence in Kosovo unacceptable while calling for constructive dialogue with Serbia

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that the recent violent outbreaks in Kosovo were unacceptable and perpetrators must be brought to justice. “I welcome that Serbia is prepared to cooperate in these efforts.” Stoltenberg also urged Serbia and Kosovo to engage “constructively” in a European Union-mediated dialogue that is aimed at normalizing relations between the former …

EU envoy in surprise visit to Kosovo to push for further steps in normalization talks with Serbia
1 year, 1 month ago

EU envoy in surprise visit to Kosovo to push for further steps in normalization talks with Serbia

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The European Union’s envoy for the western Balkans began a surprise two-day visit to Kosovo on Monday to talk with its leaders on further steps in normalization talks with Serbia. Miroslav Lajcak met with Kosovar Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi, who is Kosovo’s main negotiator in the EU-facilitated talks with Serbia, from which Kosovo declared independence in …

Serbia to hold snap elections as president calls for country to be ‘united’
1 year, 1 month ago

Serbia to hold snap elections as president calls for country to be ‘united’

Al Jazeera  

Serbia will hold a snap election next month after President Aleksandar Vucic dissolved parliament in the face of political pressure at home and from the European Union. “We live in times that are difficult for the whole world, in times of global challenges, wars and conflicts when it is necessary that we are all united in preserving vital national and …

Serbia and Kosovo leaders break off talks without result despite EU pressure
1 year, 1 month ago

Serbia and Kosovo leaders break off talks without result despite EU pressure

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo have refused to compromise at a fresh round of meetings meant to improve their bitter relations and they continue to jeopardize their chances of joining the European Union, the bloc’s top diplomat said Thursday. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who has been supervising the “Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue” process, said that negotiators had …

European Union to press the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to set decades of enmity behind them
1 year, 1 month ago

European Union to press the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to set decades of enmity behind them

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The European Union is set …

EU and US envoys urge Kosovo and Serbia to resume dialogue in order to defuse tensions
1 year, 2 months ago

EU and US envoys urge Kosovo and Serbia to resume dialogue in order to defuse tensions

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak and U.S. Special Representative to …

EU and US envoys urge Kosovo and Serbia to resume dialogue in order to defuse tensions
1 year, 2 months ago

EU and US envoys urge Kosovo and Serbia to resume dialogue in order to defuse tensions

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The envoys of the European Union and the United States urged Kosovo and Serbia on Saturday to resume their dialogue on normalizing relations before the bitter tensions between the two sides result in more violence. EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak and U.S. Special Representative to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar met with Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Kosovo’s …

KFOR commander calls on Kosovo and Serbia to return to talks to prevent future violence
1 year, 2 months ago

KFOR commander calls on Kosovo and Serbia to return to talks to prevent future violence

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The NATO-led peacekeeping force on Friday called on both Kosovo and Serbia to return to the negotiating table to resolve their issues to prevent violence like the recent shootout between masked Serb gunmen and Kosovo police that left four people dead and sent tensions soaring in the region. Kosovo Force commander Maj. Gen. Angelo Michele Ristuccia called …

Kosovo-Serbia tension threatens the Balkan path to EU integration, Germany’s foreign minister warns
1 year, 2 months ago

Kosovo-Serbia tension threatens the Balkan path to EU integration, Germany’s foreign minister warns

Associated Press  

TIRANA, Albania — Germany’s foreign minister on Friday expressed the European Union’s deep concerns following the recent shootout between masked Serb gunmen and Kosovo police that left four people dead and sent tensions soaring in the region. Annalena Baerbock was in Tirana, Albania at a foreign ministers’ meeting ahead of the Oct. 16 summit on the Berlin Process, an initiative …

Serbia says it has reduced army presence near Kosovo after US expressed concern over troop buildup
1 year, 2 months ago

Serbia says it has reduced army presence near Kosovo after US expressed concern over troop buildup

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — The Serbian army has cut the number of troops stationed on the border with Kosovo by nearly half, top Serbian military officials said on Monday, denying U.S. and other reports of a mass military buildup in the wake of a shooting over a week ago that killed four people and raised fears of instability in the volatile …

What is behind renewed tensions between Serbia and Kosovo?
1 year, 2 months ago

What is behind renewed tensions between Serbia and Kosovo?

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo flared anew over the weekend when some 30 heavily armed Serbs barricaded themselves in an Orthodox monastery in northern Kosovo, setting off a daylong gunbattle with police that left one officer and three attackers dead. Kosovo’s majority ethnic Albanians, most of whom are Muslim, meanwhile, view Kosovo as their country and accuse …

Kosovo mourns a slain police officer, some Serb gunmen remain at large after a siege at a monastery
1 year, 2 months ago

Kosovo mourns a slain police officer, some Serb gunmen remain at large after a siege at a monastery

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Kosovo on Monday was observing …

Why Kosovo’s standoff with Serbs continues 15 years after statehood
1 year, 3 months ago

Why Kosovo’s standoff with Serbs continues 15 years after statehood

Al Jazeera  

Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but Serbia still formally deems Kosovo to be part of its territory. Unrest in the region intensified when ethnic Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo’s Serb-majority area after April elections the Serbs boycotted, a move that led the United States and its allies to rebuke Pristina. Last December, Serbs in north Kosovo erected multiple …

Kosovo’s prime minister blames EU envoy for the failure of recent talks with Serbia
1 year, 3 months ago

Kosovo’s prime minister blames EU envoy for the failure of recent talks with Serbia

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo’s prime minister on Monday accused the European Union’s special envoy in normalization talks with Serbia of not being “neutral and correct” and of coordinating with Belgrade against Pristina. Prime Minister Albin Kurti said EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak had coordinated with Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic in the EU-facilitated talks held last week in Brussels. Kurti also criticized …

Talks between Serbia and Kosovo break down again. The EU says their hopes of joining are at risk
1 year, 3 months ago

Talks between Serbia and Kosovo break down again. The EU says their hopes of joining are at risk

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — Kosovo and Serbia on Thursday failed yet again to make progress in talks aimed at improving their long-strained relations, and the European Union’s top diplomat warned that the lack of progress could hurt their hopes of joining the bloc. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who supervised the talks in Brussels, blamed the latest breakdown on Kosovo Prime …

Talks between Serbia and Kosovo break down again
1 year, 3 months ago

Talks between Serbia and Kosovo break down again

Al Jazeera  

EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell blames Kosovo for failing to implement a deal with Serbia on normalising relations between the two former foes. Talks between the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo on improving ties failed to make a breakthrough after Pristina rejected an EU compromise proposal, the bloc’s foreign policy chief said. Borrell blamed Kosovo for a failure to implement …

Top US and EU lawmakers say West is too soft on Serbia when it comes to easing Kosovo tensions
1 year, 4 months ago

Top US and EU lawmakers say West is too soft on Serbia when it comes to easing Kosovo tensions

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — Senior lawmakers from the United States and Europe are calling for a change in the Western diplomatic approach toward Serbia and Kosovo amid concern that tensions between the two could rapidly spiral out of control. We would ask that the international community learns from our past and ensure we do not adopt a Belgrade-centered policy for the Balkans.” …

Does the West still want a democratic Kosovo?
1 year, 5 months ago

Does the West still want a democratic Kosovo?

Al Jazeera  

If the West is still serious about Kosovo’s sovereignty and the security of the region, it ought to act like it. Recent Kosovo-Serbia tensions culminated in Serbia “arresting” three Kosovo police officers without a clear cause, an act that Kosovo called a “kidnapping” and “foreign aggression” within Kosovo’s borders. Yet for the sake of stability and to bring Serbia under …

Serbia to seek meeting with NATO chief, UN Security Council session on Kosovo tensions
1 year, 5 months ago

Serbia to seek meeting with NATO chief, UN Security Council session on Kosovo tensions

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia’s president on Thursday accused Kosovo of carrying out “silent ethnic cleansing” of Serbs and said his country will seek a meeting with NATO’s chief and an urgent session of United Nations Security Council to demand their protection. “Serbian people have been cornered.” Vucic said he will urge the meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg next …

The leaders of the Netherlands and Luxembourg tell Kosovo and Serbia to normalize ties for EU hopes
1 year, 5 months ago

The leaders of the Netherlands and Luxembourg tell Kosovo and Serbia to normalize ties for EU hopes

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — The leaders of the Netherlands and Luxembourg on Tuesday said that normalizing ties between Kosovo and Serbia would serve not only regional peace and stability but also their prospects of future integration into the European Union. Tensions between the two countries flared anew in May after Kosovo police seized local municipal buildings in Serb-majority northern Kosovo to …

Dutch and Luxembourg PMs urge Serbia and Kosovo to defuse tensions under shadow of war in Ukraine
1 year, 5 months ago

Dutch and Luxembourg PMs urge Serbia and Kosovo to defuse tensions under shadow of war in Ukraine

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — The prime ministers of the Netherlands and Luxembourg on Monday urged Serbia and Kosovo to act to defuse recent tensions that have threatened to push the Balkan region into instability as Europe faces Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. “We cannot, both of us, emphasize enough how important it is that both Serbia and Kosovo take steps toward de-escalation …

Kosovo’s prime minister offers to hold new elections in tense Serb-majority municipalities
1 year, 5 months ago

Kosovo’s prime minister offers to hold new elections in tense Serb-majority municipalities

Associated Press  

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo’s prime minister offered Thursday to hold new mayoral elections in four Serb-majority municipalities and reduce police there in an effort to defuse tensions with neighboring Serbia that flared anew last month. Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo boycotted mayoral elections in the four municipalities in April as part of a campaign for greater autonomy, and they now …

Serbia again threatens armed intervention in Kosovo as tension escalates
1 year, 6 months ago

Serbia again threatens armed intervention in Kosovo as tension escalates

Associated Press  

BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia on Friday reiterated a threat to intervene militarily in its former province of Kosovo if NATO-led peacekeepers there fail to protect minority Serbs from what Belgrade called the terrorist threat of Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian authorities. In a brief televised address, the Serbian army chief-of-staff, Gen. Milan Mojsilovic, said Kosovo Serbs can no longer “tolerate the terror” …

No breakthrough after EU summons Kosovo and Serbia leaders for emergency talks
1 year, 6 months ago

No breakthrough after EU summons Kosovo and Serbia leaders for emergency talks

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo made no breakthrough in EU-hosted emergency talks on Thursday aimed at defusing tensions around their border. “I think the two leaders understand the severity of the situation,” Borrell said after hours of talks each with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Borrell conceded that they have “different interpretations …

Explained | What is the Kosovo-Serbia conflict all about? Why have tensions flared again?
1 year, 6 months ago

Explained | What is the Kosovo-Serbia conflict all about? Why have tensions flared again?

The Hindu  

The story so far: In the aftermath of one of the worst escalation of tensions between Kosovo and Serbia in at least a decade, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization last week sent 700 more of its peacekeeping troops to Kosovo. Currently, an ethnic Serb minority of more than 50,000 resides in multiple municipalities in the northern part of Kosovo bordering …

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