Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti formally applied for Kosovo to become a part of the European Union on Thursday, initiating a bid which could take years to accomplish and depends on the nation normalising its relations with Serbia.&nbsp;The application was presented by PM Kurti to the Czech Republic, which is currently holding the rotating presidency of the EU.

"We want no back door, no fast-track. We want to build the EU in our country with our people," said Kosovo’s prime minister after the application was handed over to Czech European Affairs Minister Mikulas Bek.

ALSO READ|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kosovo-and-serbia-agree-to-end-car-number-plate-policy-537057">Kosovo and Serbia agree to end long-standing dispute over car licence number plates</a>

From its region, Kosovo is the only country which has till now not applied for joining the EU. Although the 27-nation EU is reluctant to further expansion, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia made them work towards improvising its relations with six Balkan countries - North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia.

"We firmly believe that a European future is the only way to solve a number of problems in the region, whether economic, social or ethnic," said Minister Bek.

In 2008, Kosovo, an Albanian-majority nation, declared independence from Serbia with the support of the West after the 1998-1999 war in which NATO’s intervention took place to protect the territory.

WATCH|&nbsp;U.S. Balkan envoy meets Kosovo PM Kurti after Serbs block roads

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Kosovo is not one of the members of the United Nations and its statehood has not been recognised by Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus, Spain and Romania. Around 110 countries recognise its independence but not Russia, China or Serbia, among others.

Before joining the EU, Kosovo needs to work on normalising its relations with Serbia. The bloc has been working on a deal on which it hopes both countries will agree in a year. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti formally applied for Kosovo to become a part of the European Union on Thursday, initiating a bid which could take years to accomplish and depends on the nation normalising its relations with Serbia.

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti formally applied for Kosovo to become a part of the European Union on Thursday, initiating a bid which could take years to accomplish and depends on the nation normalising its relations with Serbia. The application was presented by PM Kurti to the Czech Republic, which is currently holding the rotating presidency of the EU. "We want no back door, no fast-track. We want to build the EU in our country with our people," said Kosovo’s prime minister after the application was handed over to Czech European Affairs Minister Mikulas Bek. ALSO READ| Kosovo and Serbia agree to end long-standing dispute over car licence number plates From its region, Kosovo is the only country which has till now not applied for joining the EU. Although the 27-nation EU is reluctant to further expansion, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia made them work towards improvising its relations with six Balkan countries - North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia. "We firmly believe that a European future is the only way to solve a number of problems in the region, whether economic, social or ethnic," said Minister Bek. In 2008, Kosovo, an Albanian-majority nation, declared independence from Serbia with the support of the West after the 1998-1999 war in which NATO’s intervention took place to protect the territory. WATCH| U.S. Balkan envoy meets Kosovo PM Kurti after Serbs block roads Kosovo is not one of the members of the United Nations and its statehood has not been recognised by Greece, Slovakia, Cyprus, Spain and Romania. Around 110 countries recognise its independence but not Russia, China or Serbia, among others. Before joining the EU, Kosovo needs to work on normalising its relations with Serbia. The bloc has been working on a deal on which it hopes both countries will agree in a year. (With inputs from agencies)

Kosovo PM Albin Kurti submits a formal application to join European Union

As Mother Teresa receives sainthood tomorrow, two Balkan countries will be celebrating the canonisation of a woman&nbsp;they both claim as their own 
 
Albania and Macedonia, both have statues, memorials, hospitals and other monuments in her name. 
 
Albania observes Mother Teresa Day on October 19, a public holiday on the anniversary of&nbsp;Mother Teresa&#39;s&nbsp;beatification. Teresa&#39;s birth-town, Skopje, is home to the&nbsp;Mother Teresa Memorial House, built on the location of the once Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, where she was baptized. 
 
<img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/teresa-memorial-20160903123622.jpg" />
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Mother Teresa Memorial House in Skopje.
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&quot;Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, but she never declared herself a Macedonian,&quot; said Albanian historian Moikom Zeqo, author of a study on the nun&#39;s links to Albania. 
 
She &quot;always spoke about her Albanian origins and her universal mission,&quot; Zeqo told AFP. Macedonians, however, suggest her birthplace is all important. 
 
&quot;We call her &#39;Skopjanka&#39; (citizen of Skopje) because we know she is ours,&quot; said Valentina Bozinovska, director of the national commission for relations with religious communities. 
 
Macedonian government officials are expected&nbsp;to attend Sunday&#39;s canonisation service led by Pope Francis in front of St Peter&#39;s Basilica.&nbsp;In Skopje, celebratory events will be held in honour of her canonisation. 
 
Youngest of the three children, Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Macedonia&#39;s current capital Skopje. She had an Albanian mother who&#39;s family was from Kosovo. Teresa was baptised Roman Catholic, a minority religion in Skopje, decided early on she would take up a religious life. 
 
She left her home aged 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland. She travelled to Darjeeling in India a year later in 1929 and took her vows as a Sister of Loretto in 1931. 
 
She obtained permission from the Vatican to leave the Sisters of Loretto in 1948 and devoted herself to working among the poor under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Calcutta (now Kolkatta). 
 
Teresa received a Nobel Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Both countries have statues, memorials, roads, hospitals and other monuments in her name

As Mother Teresa receives sainthood tomorrow, two Balkan countries will be celebrating the canonisation of a woman they both claim as their own Albania and Macedonia, both have statues, memorials, hospitals and other monuments in her name. Albania observes Mother Teresa Day on October 19, a public holiday on the anniversary of Mother Teresa's beatification. Teresa's birth-town, Skopje, is home to the Mother Teresa Memorial House, built on the location of the once Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, where she was baptized. Mother Teresa Memorial House in Skopje. "Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, but she never declared herself a Macedonian," said Albanian historian Moikom Zeqo, author of a study on the nun's links to Albania. She "always spoke about her Albanian origins and her universal mission," Zeqo told AFP. Macedonians, however, suggest her birthplace is all important. "We call her 'Skopjanka' (citizen of Skopje) because we know she is ours," said Valentina Bozinovska, director of the national commission for relations with religious communities. Macedonian government officials are expected to attend Sunday's canonisation service led by Pope Francis in front of St Peter's Basilica. In Skopje, celebratory events will be held in honour of her canonisation. Youngest of the three children, Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Macedonia's current capital Skopje. She had an Albanian mother who's family was from Kosovo. Teresa was baptised Roman Catholic, a minority religion in Skopje, decided early on she would take up a religious life. She left her home aged 18 to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland. She travelled to Darjeeling in India a year later in 1929 and took her vows as a Sister of Loretto in 1931. She obtained permission from the Vatican to leave the Sisters of Loretto in 1948 and devoted herself to working among the poor under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Calcutta (now Kolkatta). Teresa received a Nobel Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Mother Teresa's canonisation: Albania, Macedonia both claim her as their own

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Kosovo PM Albin Kurti submits a formal application to join European Union

Mother Teresa's canonisation: Albania, Macedonia both claim her as their own