Kosovo

Zahir Tanin, the head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), told Council members that preliminary results pointed to an opposition victory, with coalition talks underway. Most voters had decided to “rally behind unconventional political candidates”, signifying a break with the past.

Vote counting has been suspended in Kosovo after several Central Election Commission officials reported health problems after opening five ballot boxes from Serbia.

The two former opposition parties that won most votes in Kosovo’s recent parliamentary elections have expressed willingness to reach a coalition agreement, four days after the voters elected a new parliament. After Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje party came first in last Sunday’s vote, the Democratic League of Kosovo’s candidate for prime minister, Vjosa Osmani, on Wednesday on Facebook called for a coalition agreement between them.

U.S. President Donald Trump's new special envoy to the stalled talks between Serbia and Kosovo made his first visit to the troubled Balkan region Wednesday. … Kurti, who is poised to become Kosovo's next prime minister, has said he is in no rush to restart formal talks with Serbia and won't lift the previous government's 100% tariff on Serb imports.

Well-administered and transparent elections affected by an uneven playing field, and marred by intimidation and lack of competition in the Kosovo Serb areas.

New U.S. Special Envoy to the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer said Washington expects talks between Serbia and Kosovo to restart after Kosovo’s Oct. 6 election. In an interview with VOA on Wednesday, Palmer said the U.S. is hopeful that the new Kosovo government is “one that's prepared to suspend the tariffs that are an obstacle to the resumption of the dialogue process.”

Kosovo's president has set snap parliamentary elections for October 6 following the resignation of Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj in July.

Lawmakers in Kosovo have voted to disband parliament, clearing the way for President Hashim Thaci to call early general elections following the resignation of Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj. … The snap elections are to be held near the end of September or in early October.

In a joint statement, the governments of the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy called on the neighbours to “restart the EU-led Dialogue with urgency … The status quo prevents progress on Kosovo’s and Serbia’s path towards the European Union (EU) and is simply not sustainable”, it added.