Kosovo

Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has again defended his actions during Kosovo's war with Serbia following his return from an international war crimes court in The Hague, and called for unity among the country's political forces as it attempts to normalize ties with its bitter rival.

The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo have held their first face-to-face talks in 20 months under a European Union-mediated dialogue process aimed at normalizing relations between the two Balkan neighbors. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo's prime minister, Avdullah Hoti, came away from the July 16 talks in Brussels still far apart on a host of issues but agreed to meet again in-person in early September. Technical-level talks will continue next week among officials.

Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has faced questioning by international war-crimes prosecutors at The Hague. … The prosecutors did not provide any details about the questioning.

The European Union said long-stalled talks between Serbia and Kosovo were “back on track” after a video meeting between the two countries’ leaders. Kosovo's Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held a virtual meeting mediated by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci will go to The Hague on Monday to be interviewed by international war crimes prosecutors.

Kosovar President Hashim Thaci says he will “immediately resign” if a judge in The Hague confirm war-crimes charges filed against him, including crimes against humanity, stemming from Kosovo’s war of independence in 1998-99.

With a planned meeting in the White House on Saturday derailed by the indictment of the Kosovo President, France and Germany have indicated their willingness to host a summit in Paris.

Kosovo's prime minister has canceled talks with Serbia in Washington after his president was indicted for crimes against humanity. The talks were meant to be the first dialogue in 19 months.

A ten-count indictment has been filed against Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci charging him with crimes allegedly committed in the independence war of the late-1990s, including murder and torture.

The U.S. special envoy for Serbia and Kosovo negotiations says he has received commitments from both countries to meet in Washington on June 27 for talks aimed at leading to a normalization of relations.