Kosovo

After Kosovo ministers claimed that a large-scale police operation has closed the last remaining Belgrade-run 'parallel institutions' in the country, a top Serbian official denounced what he called an act of 'terror'.

February’s elections won’t be an easy ride for embattled Prime Minister Albin Kurti – and, even if his party wins, Donald Trump’s return could see US pressure on Kosovo to ‘deliver’ on agreements with Serbia grow.

A blast on a canal vital to Kosovo's water and power supplies has sparked a war of words with Serbia, with fears it could further escalate tensions between the two Balkan nations. 

Amid growing tensions between Pristina and Belgrade, all parties must engage in “responsible leadership” to uphold human rights and freedoms and to reach constructive political dialogue, the United Nations top official in Kosovo said today, as representatives of Pristina and Belgrade spotlighted their engagements with the international community and sparred over who is responsible for the lack of political progress to normalize relations between them.

The European Union on Wednesday criticised Serbia’s move to adopt a law declaring Kosovo an “area of special protection” in which people would receive special social benefits from the Serbian authorities.

EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak is meeting in Brussels with representatives from Kosovo and Serbia in an attempt to organize a new round of high-level talks as part of international mediation on implementing past commitments aimed at normalizing relations between the Balkan neighbors. 

A year after an attack by a Serbian armed group in northern Kosovo’s Banjska killed a police officer, the trial is expected to begin on Wednesday at the Pristina Basic Court. In all, 45 suspects have been indicted for the attack in September 2023, which Kosovo Serb businessman and politician Milan Radoicic later said he led and organised after he was identified in drone footage by Kosovo security officials. 

The European Union’s office in Pristina on Tuesday welcomed the Kosovo government’s decision to scrap a ban on imports of Serbian finished goods at the Merdare border crossing – a key demand of the EU. 

Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti has dismissed as "unconscionable" demands made last week by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for the return of local Serbs to Kosovar institutions. Kurti, responding to Vucic's demands for the first time, also said on September 17 that they were part of an "aggressive campaign for new conflicts."

Kosovo has closed two of its four border crossings with Serbia, the government said, after protesters on the Serbian side blocked roads and turned away passengers carrying Kosovo documents.