Ending a long running dispute, Kosovo and Serbia agree that they will not be finding cars with the Serbian number plate. EU policy Chief Josep Borrell announced the development on Twitter and said that 'Serbia will stop issuing licence plates with Kosovo cities' denomination'.

Serbia will stop issuing license plates with Kosovo cities' denominations: Josep Borell | WION

Amid the ongoing dispute over vehicle license plates, EU-mediated Serbia-Kosovo talks fail. EU has warned of escalation and violence. Watch this report.

Dispute over vehicle license plates: EU-mediated Serbia-Kosovo talks fail

Amid the car plates dispute straining &nbsp;relations between Kosovo and Serbia, the European Union on Monday warned of "escalation and violence'. Both countries have held emergency talks but have failed to find a solution to the problem.&nbsp;

"After many hours of discussion ... the two parties did not agree to a solution today," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement to the media.

"I think that there is an important responsibility on the sides of both leaders for the failure of the talks today and for any escalation and violence that might occur on the ground in the following days."

Kosovo has a Serbian minority population. This year, Kosovo has asked everyone to change old car plates that date before 1999 when Kosovo was part of Serbia. The Serbian minority in Kosovo is against this imposition. However, in spite of the protests, Kosovo has said that it will begin issuing fines from Tuesday.

Borrell said he would inform the EU member states of the two countries' "lack of respect for their international legal obligations" and warned that, given their commitment to joining the bloc, they should act accordingly.

"The Serbian side was completely constructive and we were accepting the texts that were changed 10 times, but the Albanian side did not want to accept anything, not for a second, they would always add something that was clearly not possible," Vucic told reporters after the meeting.

Kurti, for his part, said he was ready to hold further meetings to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina, not just to deal with one issue.

"We cannot be irresponsible and not treat the actual issues ... We cannot turn ourselves into state leaders that are dealing only with car plates and are not talking how to normalize their relations," he told reporters in Brussels.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Amid the car plates dispute straining relations between Kosovo and Serbia, the European Union on Monday warned of "escalation and violence'. Both countries have held emergency talks but have failed to find a solution to the problem.

Amid the car plates dispute straining relations between Kosovo and Serbia, the European Union on Monday warned of "escalation and violence'. Both countries have held emergency talks but have failed to find a solution to the problem. "After many hours of discussion ... the two parties did not agree to a solution today," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement to the media. "I think that there is an important responsibility on the sides of both leaders for the failure of the talks today and for any escalation and violence that might occur on the ground in the following days." Kosovo has a Serbian minority population. This year, Kosovo has asked everyone to change old car plates that date before 1999 when Kosovo was part of Serbia. The Serbian minority in Kosovo is against this imposition. However, in spite of the protests, Kosovo has said that it will begin issuing fines from Tuesday. Borrell said he would inform the EU member states of the two countries' "lack of respect for their international legal obligations" and warned that, given their commitment to joining the bloc, they should act accordingly. "The Serbian side was completely constructive and we were accepting the texts that were changed 10 times, but the Albanian side did not want to accept anything, not for a second, they would always add something that was clearly not possible," Vucic told reporters after the meeting. Kurti, for his part, said he was ready to hold further meetings to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina, not just to deal with one issue. "We cannot be irresponsible and not treat the actual issues ... We cannot turn ourselves into state leaders that are dealing only with car plates and are not talking how to normalize their relations," he told reporters in Brussels. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

As Serbia and Kosovo fail to resolve car plates dispute, EU warns of escalation

Hundreds of Serb policemen in Kosovo, working in Jarinje and Brnjak border posts in the north of the country submitted resignations on Sunday (November 6). The step was taken in defiance of Kosovo's order to use Kosovan license plates instead of those issued by Serbia.

The 300 resignations in the northern town of Mitrovica, reported by Serbian media, are part of a wider Serb movement to withdraw from state institutions including, courts, police, parliament and government.

Several thousand Serbs gathered in North Mitrovica to protest against mandatory Kosovan plates. The crowd waved Serban flags and played Serbian national anthem.

The long-running licence plate row has stoked tensions between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo, which gained independence in 2008 and is home to a Serb minority in the north that is backed by Belgrade.

Kosovo police said in a statement it was aware Serb police officers had abandoned their posts and some have handed over police equipment.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti blamed Belgrade for seeking to destabilise Kosovo by supporting the Serbs in their boycott of state institutions.

"I once again invite all Serb citizens of our country to not abandon institutions, not to resign, not to leave their jobs, because there would be less service for the people," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Hundreds of Serb policemen in Kosovo, working in Jarinje and Brnjak border posts in the north of the country submitted resignations on Sunday (November 6). The step was taken in defiance of Kosovo's order to use Kosovan license plates instead of those issued by Serbia.

Hundreds of Serb policemen in Kosovo, working in Jarinje and Brnjak border posts in the north of the country submitted resignations on Sunday (November 6). The step was taken in defiance of Kosovo's order to use Kosovan license plates instead of those issued by Serbia. The 300 resignations in the northern town of Mitrovica, reported by Serbian media, are part of a wider Serb movement to withdraw from state institutions including, courts, police, parliament and government. Several thousand Serbs gathered in North Mitrovica to protest against mandatory Kosovan plates. The crowd waved Serban flags and played Serbian national anthem. The long-running licence plate row has stoked tensions between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo, which gained independence in 2008 and is home to a Serb minority in the north that is backed by Belgrade. Kosovo police said in a statement it was aware Serb police officers had abandoned their posts and some have handed over police equipment. Prime Minister Albin Kurti blamed Belgrade for seeking to destabilise Kosovo by supporting the Serbs in their boycott of state institutions. "I once again invite all Serb citizens of our country to not abandon institutions, not to resign, not to leave their jobs, because there would be less service for the people," he said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Serb policemen in Kosovo quit en-masse to protest against government's order

Why ethnic tensions are flaring again in northern Kosovo

Serbian President&nbsp;Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday announced that the pan-European LGBTQ+ EuroPride, scheduled to take place in the capital city of Belgrade next month has been shelved.

Citing growing tension with Kosovo as one of the primary reasons for the cancellation, the Balkan President stated that only a miracle could put the event back on track.&nbsp;

"The pride parade, however you call that thing, scheduled for September, will be postponed or cancelled,"&nbsp;

Vucic further added that his government needed to deal with other crisis:&nbsp;

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<h5>“We can’t at this moment when we have both the open Balkans and the crisis in Kosovo and Metohija that will not end at least until 31 October, we have no progress, we have nowhere to move. We have to deal with energy, and drought, we have many crises.”</h5>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/tensions-between-serbia-and-kosovo-erupt-once-more-over-licence-plates-502516">WATCH |&nbsp;Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo erupt once more over licence plates</a>

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It is pertinent to note that members of the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) had chosen Belgrade as the host city for the annual event, almost three years ago.&nbsp;

Thus, the&nbsp;sudden cancellation of the event&nbsp;has invited harsh criticism from LGBTQ+ activists.&nbsp;Kristine Garina, President&nbsp;of EPOA urged the authorities to honour their promise of supporting the event.

“President Vucic cannot cancel someone else’s event.&nbsp;The right to hold Pride has been ruled by the European Court of Human Rights to be a fundamental human right," said&nbsp;Garina.&nbsp;

Garina also added that the government was using stale tropes to cancel the event which celebrated diversity.

“Aside from the illegality of such a ban, it must be noted that those opposing EuroPride in Belgrade are using tired old tropes, inaccuracies and downright lies to discredit what is, in fact, a celebration of human rights and equality,” said Garina.&nbsp;

EuroPride is a&nbsp;pan-European international event dedicated to LGBT pride. It is hosted by a different European city every year. Belgrade was supposed to be the first European city in southeast Europe to organise the event. However, the axing has put a dent on the travelling plans of thousands who had planned to attend the event.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

&nbsp;

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday announced that the pan-European LGBTQ+ EuroPride, scheduled to take place in the capital city of Belgrade next month has been shelved.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday announced that the pan-European LGBTQ+ EuroPride, scheduled to take place in the capital city of Belgrade next month has been shelved. Citing growing tension with Kosovo as one of the primary reasons for the cancellation, the Balkan President stated that only a miracle could put the event back on track. "The pride parade, however you call that thing, scheduled for September, will be postponed or cancelled," Vucic further added that his government needed to deal with other crisis: “We can’t at this moment when we have both the open Balkans and the crisis in Kosovo and Metohija that will not end at least until 31 October, we have no progress, we have nowhere to move. We have to deal with energy, and drought, we have many crises.” × WATCH | Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo erupt once more over licence plates × It is pertinent to note that members of the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) had chosen Belgrade as the host city for the annual event, almost three years ago. Thus, the sudden cancellation of the event has invited harsh criticism from LGBTQ+ activists. Kristine Garina, President of EPOA urged the authorities to honour their promise of supporting the event. “President Vucic cannot cancel someone else’s event. The right to hold Pride has been ruled by the European Court of Human Rights to be a fundamental human right," said Garina. Garina also added that the government was using stale tropes to cancel the event which celebrated diversity. “Aside from the illegality of such a ban, it must be noted that those opposing EuroPride in Belgrade are using tired old tropes, inaccuracies and downright lies to discredit what is, in fact, a celebration of human rights and equality,” said Garina. EuroPride is a pan-European international event dedicated to LGBT pride. It is hosted by a different European city every year. Belgrade was supposed to be the first European city in southeast Europe to organise the event. However, the axing has put a dent on the travelling plans of thousands who had planned to attend the event. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Serbia shelves EuroPride in Belgrade next month, draws ire of LGBTQ+ activists

A dispute over license plates between the Balkan nations of Kosovo and Serbia, from whom Kosovo split 14 years ago, yielded protests and gunfire Sunday night.

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo erupt once more over licence plates

European Union's newest state Kosovo is miffed with the block. The EU's delay in allowing visa free travel for the people of Kosovo has spread dismay and resentment and now a restaurant owner in Kosovo's capital has retaliated by putting up a sign outside his restaurant that reads protest no entry for EU citizens without visa.

WION Fineprint | Unique protest by Kosovo restaurant, newest EU state miffed over Visa rules

European country Kosovo is facing the worst energy crisis in a decade. Kosovo has introduced a ban on cryptocurrency mining. The Kosovo government said all law enforcement agencies will stop the production of crypto activity.

Kosovo has introduced a ban on cryptocurrency mining amid worst energy crisis in a decade

Kososvo has one of the lowest electricity prices in Europe. 97% of its energy needs are met through coal, the dependence on coals has taken a heavy toll on locals now who have been battling pollution-related illness.

Heavy price for cheap electricity in Europe's Kosovo

The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani has made an impassioned plea to India to recognise her country, asserting that Kosovo is not Kashmir.

In an exclusive interview to WION’s Executive Editor Palki Sharma, Osmani said: “We once again call upon the Indian government to first of all recognise the suffering of the people of Kosovo from the [Slobodan] Milošević genocide regime, and secondly, recognise the reality on the ground that is not going to change.” 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Kosovo President to WION: "Proud to help Afghans"

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She was responding to a question about India not recognising Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. In 2011, diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks had shown that the US tried to pressurise India to recognise Kosovo. &nbsp;New Delhi is yet to recognise Kosovo, as it was concerned that a parallel would be drawn between Kosovo and Kashmir. Many of the member states of United Nations are also yet to recognise Kosovo.

“It’s just a matter of time when countries like India will join other democratic countries around the world in recognising the sovereign independent Republic of Kosovo,” Osmani said in an appearance at WION’s Global Leadership Series show.

She drew attention to&nbsp;what the International Court of Justice had said: that the independence of Kosovo is within international law and does not compare to any other place around the world. &nbsp;She said how Kosovo became independent makes it different from other regions, including Kashmir.

Noting that the dissolution of Yugoslavia had created several countries including Kosovo, she said “this is a reality that cannot be reversed.”

“It is extremely important for us that we have healthy and active ties with the Indian government, the Indian people,” she said, highlighting possible opportunities for cooperation in economic, political and diplomatic spheres.

“I do hope that we are going to have a chance to at least meet, so that the Indian officials can hear our side of the story. It’s a story of suffering , perseverance, but also of immense hope for the future.”

She asserted that Kosovo has never been the reason of wars or instability, “Quite the opposite. We have been pushing for stability.”

She pointed out that most of India’s allies have already recognised Kosovo. She said the ICJ ruled in favour of Kosovo independence because the legal argument was in its favour, and with the recognition that the situation there is different from other areas like Kashmir.

“We are free and independent today and I truly hope that we can sit down with the Indian government so that we can discuss how we can enhance our relations.”

“We are trying to reach out and I do hope that we will have a positive response. I think listening to other’s argument that the least that anyone should do. Listening to our side of the story, which the truth that has been confirmed by the international courts, is what we hope to be able to tell the Indian government,” she said.

The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani has made an impassioned plea to India to recognise her country, asserting that Kosovo is not Kashmir. In an exclusive interview to WION’s Executive Editor Palki Sharma, Osmani said: “We once again call upon the Indian government to first of all recognise the suffering of the people of Kosovo from the [Slobodan] Milošević genocide regime, and secondly, recognise the reality on the ground that is not going to change.

The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani has made an impassioned plea to India to recognise her country, asserting that Kosovo is not Kashmir. In an exclusive interview to WION’s Executive Editor Palki Sharma, Osmani said: “We once again call upon the Indian government to first of all recognise the suffering of the people of Kosovo from the [Slobodan] Milošević genocide regime, and secondly, recognise the reality on the ground that is not going to change.” Watch | Gravitas: Kosovo President to WION: "Proud to help Afghans" She was responding to a question about India not recognising Kosovo, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. In 2011, diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks had shown that the US tried to pressurise India to recognise Kosovo. New Delhi is yet to recognise Kosovo, as it was concerned that a parallel would be drawn between Kosovo and Kashmir. Many of the member states of United Nations are also yet to recognise Kosovo. “It’s just a matter of time when countries like India will join other democratic countries around the world in recognising the sovereign independent Republic of Kosovo,” Osmani said in an appearance at WION’s Global Leadership Series show. She drew attention to what the International Court of Justice had said: that the independence of Kosovo is within international law and does not compare to any other place around the world. She said how Kosovo became independent makes it different from other regions, including Kashmir. Noting that the dissolution of Yugoslavia had created several countries including Kosovo, she said “this is a reality that cannot be reversed.” “It is extremely important for us that we have healthy and active ties with the Indian government, the Indian people,” she said, highlighting possible opportunities for cooperation in economic, political and diplomatic spheres. “I do hope that we are going to have a chance to at least meet, so that the Indian officials can hear our side of the story. It’s a story of suffering , perseverance, but also of immense hope for the future.” She asserted that Kosovo has never been the reason of wars or instability, “Quite the opposite. We have been pushing for stability.” She pointed out that most of India’s allies have already recognised Kosovo. She said the ICJ ruled in favour of Kosovo independence because the legal argument was in its favour, and with the recognition that the situation there is different from other areas like Kashmir. “We are free and independent today and I truly hope that we can sit down with the Indian government so that we can discuss how we can enhance our relations.” “We are trying to reach out and I do hope that we will have a positive response. I think listening to other’s argument that the least that anyone should do. Listening to our side of the story, which the truth that has been confirmed by the international courts, is what we hope to be able to tell the Indian government,” she said.

EXCLUSIVE: Kosovo is not Kashmir, recognise us, President Vjosa Osmani urges India 

Kosovo is one of the countries taking in Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime, and for its President Vjosa Osmani, the matter is personal, having felt the horrors of displacement as a kid during the Kosovo War of the late 1990s.&nbsp;

“First and foremost we believe it’s a moral obligation. We have been refugees ourselves during nineties and we are alive today because the world did not turn its back on us,” she told WION’s Palki Sharma in an exclusive interview as part of the Global Leadership Series.

Noting that Kosovo refugees were taken by so many countries, she also pointed to international conventions that mandate against closing of borders to refugees. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-kosovo-is-not-kashmir-recognise-us-president-vjosa-osmani-urges-india-411658">EXCLUSIVE: Kosovo is not Kashmir, recognise us, President Vjosa Osmani urges India&nbsp;</a> 
 
“We are quite a small country, but with a big heart, and we want to show this is the right thing to do when we people need shelter.”

In her young age, Osmani had fled Albania for Kosovo during the Kosovo War of 1998-99.

“When I was a kid, we were not allowed to exercise our rights just because we were Albanians,” she recollected, adding “we had no right to go to school, speak our language” despite being 90% of the population of Kosovo.

“The experiences that I had, just like any other citizen in Kosovo, were extremely painful. We saw hell with our own eyes during the 90s."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-kosovo-president-to-wion-proud-to-help-afghans-411729">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-kosovo-president-to-wion-proud-to-help-afghans-411729/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Helping the Afghan refugees, therefore, is a matter beyond politics, she said.&nbsp;

Osmani said Kosovo will be receiving 2,000 Afghan refugees &nbsp;at one time till their visas to US or Nato member states are processed.&nbsp;

“Everyday we are welcoming more Afghan refugees…and we are proud that we are able to help the international community in this effort.”

These are not terrorists or the Taliban

Asked about controversies that some refuges are kept in Kosovo as they may pose a security threat, Osmani said they are in the country till their visas to go to the US or elsewhere are processed.

“This doesn’t mean they are actually terrorists or they have links with the Taliban.”&nbsp;

She said the procedure may last longer for some depending on the categories of visas they fall under.

“It has nothing to do with them being labelled as security concerns. We are not taking in people who have links with the Taliban. Quite the opposite, we’re taking people who fought the regime.”

She also pointed towards the two-step vetting process, one by the US and other by&nbsp; Kosovo authorities to screen the incoming refugees.

Describing the current Afghan refugee crisis as truly heartbreaking , she recalled that some 1 million out of 1.7 million Kosovars were forced to leave their home during the war.

Many of them were internally displaced persons and most refugees.

They were taken to other countries who opened their doors for us: United States, Canada, all the way to Australia, New Zealand. “Practically most of the world opened their doors to us.”

“We truly feel the pain though the political situation is different. We had paid a heavy price for the freedom and independence we enjoy today. Just in a matter of months we lost 13,000 civilians because they were killed by the [Slobodan] Milosevic regime. 20,000 women were raped…this puts us in a situation to really understand the human suffering of those who are fleeing from terror, repression that the Afghan citizens are facing now under the new rule from the Taliban,” Osmani said.

“These people are forced to plea because they believed in peace, democracy, justice and equality.”

Kosovo is one of the countries taking in Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime, and for its President Vjosa Osmani, the matter is personal, having felt the horrors of displacement as a kid during the Kosovo War of the late 1990s.

Kosovo is one of the countries taking in Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime, and for its President Vjosa Osmani, the matter is personal, having felt the horrors of displacement as a kid during the Kosovo War of the late 1990s. “First and foremost we believe it’s a moral obligation. We have been refugees ourselves during nineties and we are alive today because the world did not turn its back on us,” she told WION’s Palki Sharma in an exclusive interview as part of the Global Leadership Series. Noting that Kosovo refugees were taken by so many countries, she also pointed to international conventions that mandate against closing of borders to refugees. EXCLUSIVE: Kosovo is not Kashmir, recognise us, President Vjosa Osmani urges India “We are quite a small country, but with a big heart, and we want to show this is the right thing to do when we people need shelter.” In her young age, Osmani had fled Albania for Kosovo during the Kosovo War of 1998-99. “When I was a kid, we were not allowed to exercise our rights just because we were Albanians,” she recollected, adding “we had no right to go to school, speak our language” despite being 90% of the population of Kosovo. “The experiences that I had, just like any other citizen in Kosovo, were extremely painful. We saw hell with our own eyes during the 90s." WATCH | Helping the Afghan refugees, therefore, is a matter beyond politics, she said. Osmani said Kosovo will be receiving 2,000 Afghan refugees at one time till their visas to US or Nato member states are processed. “Everyday we are welcoming more Afghan refugees…and we are proud that we are able to help the international community in this effort.” These are not terrorists or the Taliban Asked about controversies that some refuges are kept in Kosovo as they may pose a security threat, Osmani said they are in the country till their visas to go to the US or elsewhere are processed. “This doesn’t mean they are actually terrorists or they have links with the Taliban.” She said the procedure may last longer for some depending on the categories of visas they fall under. “It has nothing to do with them being labelled as security concerns. We are not taking in people who have links with the Taliban. Quite the opposite, we’re taking people who fought the regime.” She also pointed towards the two-step vetting process, one by the US and other by Kosovo authorities to screen the incoming refugees. Describing the current Afghan refugee crisis as truly heartbreaking , she recalled that some 1 million out of 1.7 million Kosovars were forced to leave their home during the war. Many of them were internally displaced persons and most refugees. They were taken to other countries who opened their doors for us: United States, Canada, all the way to Australia, New Zealand. “Practically most of the world opened their doors to us.” “We truly feel the pain though the political situation is different. We had paid a heavy price for the freedom and independence we enjoy today. Just in a matter of months we lost 13,000 civilians because they were killed by the [Slobodan] Milosevic regime. 20,000 women were raped…this puts us in a situation to really understand the human suffering of those who are fleeing from terror, repression that the Afghan citizens are facing now under the new rule from the Taliban,” Osmani said. “These people are forced to plea because they believed in peace, democracy, justice and equality.”

EXCLUSIVE: For Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani who once fled her home, Afghan refugee crisis is personal

Serbians lift a road blockade near the border with Kosovo as NATO troops took control of the area under an EU-mediated deal, ending a long stand-off between the two administrations.

NATO takes control of Serbia-Kosovo border

As Kosovo opens its doors to refugees from Afghanistan, President Vjosa Osmani speaks to Palki Sharma on what prompted this decision, her appeal to the international community, and more on Global Leadership Series.

Global Leadership Series: Vjosa Osmani, Kosovo President speaks to Palki Sharma

Sundance Film Festival winner feature ‘Hive’ from writer-director Blerta Basholli has been submitted for this year’s International Feature Oscar by Kosovo.

The Albanian-language drama is based on the true story of Fahrije (Yllka Gashi), who, like many of the other women in her patriarchal village, has lived with fading hope and burgeoning grief since her husband went missing during the war in Kosovo.

In order to provide for her struggling family, she pulls together the other widows in her community to launch a business selling a local food product. But the men in the village condemn Fahrije’s efforts to empower herself and the women around her, starting a feud that threatens their newfound sovereignty — and the financial future of Fahrije’s family.

‘Hive’ will release in New York on November 5 at Film Forum and at Los Angeles’ Laemmle’s Royal Theatre on November 12.

Watch Hive trailer here:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/39cIMHLPFMU" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>

Sundance Film Festival winner feature ‘Hive’ from writer-director Blerta Basholli has been submitted for this year’s International Feature Oscar by Kosovo. The Albanian-language drama is based on the true story of Fahrije (Yllka Gashi), who, like many of the other women in her patriarchal village, has lived with fading hope and burgeoning grief since her husband went missing during the war in Kosovo.

Sundance Film Festival winner feature ‘Hive’ from writer-director Blerta Basholli has been submitted for this year’s International Feature Oscar by Kosovo. The Albanian-language drama is based on the true story of Fahrije (Yllka Gashi), who, like many of the other women in her patriarchal village, has lived with fading hope and burgeoning grief since her husband went missing during the war in Kosovo. In order to provide for her struggling family, she pulls together the other widows in her community to launch a business selling a local food product. But the men in the village condemn Fahrije’s efforts to empower herself and the women around her, starting a feud that threatens their newfound sovereignty — and the financial future of Fahrije’s family. ‘Hive’ will release in New York on November 5 at Film Forum and at Los Angeles’ Laemmle’s Royal Theatre on November 12. Watch Hive trailer here:

Oscars: Sundance winner 'Hive' sent as Kosovo’s International Feature entry

Bears are nobody's idea of a pet. The ferocious animal is capable of killing a human being with just one slap of his claw. However, even with all its power, it is helpless before humans and their boundless cruelty.

After war-ravaged Kosovo and Serbia in late 1990s, a strange practice took root in Kosovo.

Bears were caught, chained up and crammed in cages near eateries for people's 'entertainment'. People would heckle the caged animal, even force it to drink alcohol.

The bizarre and cruel idea of 'fun' became widespread in Kosovo.

The bears were underfed, they were often abandoned after restaurant managers shut shop and moved business elsewhere. In such cases, the animals were forced to live in the cage for months, covered in its own excrement.&nbsp;

The horrific practice and sheer torture of these animals was noticed by NATO troops in 2011. These troops were stationed in Kosovo.

They alerted their embassy in 2011, who then urged local authorities to stop the practice.

Eventually, it was agreed that Austrian NGO Four Paws would create a refuge on land provided by the municipality of Pristina.

The harder part turned out to be rescuing the bears from their owners.

The tense operations were carried out under the protection of special police forces supported by KFOR soldiers, recalled Dardan Gashi, who was minister of the environment at the time and a key champion of the project.

"Some of the owners were members of the former (pro-independence) guerrillas, they thought they were invulnerable and imagined we wouldn't dare go there," he told AFP.

In one case, an owner "killed three bears before we arrived", Gashi added.

Just a first step

Rescue was just the first step. Some of these bears had become dependent on alcohol. They needed proper care, nutrition so that they could return to their natural diet.

A sanctuary was created in Pristina, Kosovo's capital, for these bears.

Success at last!

The site's core mission has been achieved -- since 2014, there have been no more cases of detained bears in Kosovo, said director Mahmuti, whose next project is to find a home for a lion and wolves that were held illegally.

The sanctuary employs about 30 people and its operating costs, some 400,000 euros ($480,000) annually, are funded in large part by Four Paws.

The year before the pandemic, the site welcomed some 40,000 visitors, mostly families and students.

"It's a success story," said Milot Kurshumlia, a 39-year-old environmental activist who hopes it "won't be the last."

(With AFP inputs)

Bears are nobody's idea of a pet. The ferocious animal is capable of killing a human being with just one slap of his claw. However, even with all its power, it is helpless before humans and their boundless cruelty.

Bears are nobody's idea of a pet. The ferocious animal is capable of killing a human being with just one slap of his claw. However, even with all its power, it is helpless before humans and their boundless cruelty. After war-ravaged Kosovo and Serbia in late 1990s, a strange practice took root in Kosovo. Bears were caught, chained up and crammed in cages near eateries for people's 'entertainment'. People would heckle the caged animal, even force it to drink alcohol. The bizarre and cruel idea of 'fun' became widespread in Kosovo. The bears were underfed, they were often abandoned after restaurant managers shut shop and moved business elsewhere. In such cases, the animals were forced to live in the cage for months, covered in its own excrement. The horrific practice and sheer torture of these animals was noticed by NATO troops in 2011. These troops were stationed in Kosovo. They alerted their embassy in 2011, who then urged local authorities to stop the practice. Eventually, it was agreed that Austrian NGO Four Paws would create a refuge on land provided by the municipality of Pristina. The harder part turned out to be rescuing the bears from their owners. The tense operations were carried out under the protection of special police forces supported by KFOR soldiers, recalled Dardan Gashi, who was minister of the environment at the time and a key champion of the project. "Some of the owners were members of the former (pro-independence) guerrillas, they thought they were invulnerable and imagined we wouldn't dare go there," he told AFP. In one case, an owner "killed three bears before we arrived", Gashi added. Just a first step Rescue was just the first step. Some of these bears had become dependent on alcohol. They needed proper care, nutrition so that they could return to their natural diet. A sanctuary was created in Pristina, Kosovo's capital, for these bears. Success at last! The site's core mission has been achieved -- since 2014, there have been no more cases of detained bears in Kosovo, said director Mahmuti, whose next project is to find a home for a lion and wolves that were held illegally. The sanctuary employs about 30 people and its operating costs, some 400,000 euros ($480,000) annually, are funded in large part by Four Paws. The year before the pandemic, the site welcomed some 40,000 visitors, mostly families and students. "It's a success story," said Milot Kurshumlia, a 39-year-old environmental activist who hopes it "won't be the last." (With AFP inputs)

How Kosovo's 'restaurant bears' were rescued

Cruelty to animals is something that we see everywhere around us. But this case took it to another level. These 'restaurant bears' were in really bad situation. Check out the video to know more.

The story of Kosovo's 'restaurant bears'

PODUJEVA, Kosovo — Saranda Bogujevci gazed without flinching at a cluster of bullet holes left in the garden wall by a massacre two decades ago that wiped out most of her family and put 16 rounds into her own body.

She said her mind had erased visual memories of the slaughter by the Scorpions, a Serb paramilitary unit. But, she said, “I can still smell the earth mixed with the smell of blood.”

Bogujevci’s against-the-odds survival — she was left for dead in a heap of bodies in her neighbor’s garden — and her subsequent determination to testify against the men who murdered her mother, grandmother, two brothers and four other relatives have made her a symbol of uncommon fortitude in Kosovo, a land still scarred by the traumas of war in the 1990s.

But Bogujevci, 35, is far more than a symbol. She is part of an unlikely wave of women being elected to parliament in Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 and remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. When final results of a Feb. 14 election were finally announced Thursday in Pristina, the capital, they showed that women had won more seats in parliament than ever before — nearly 40% of the total.

That surge reflects growing discontent with the endemic corruption and bullying ways of a postwar order dominated by swaggering male veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the now disbanded guerrilla force that battled Serbia and paved the way for Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

These elected women have convinced voters that they can stand up to Serbia, which has refused to recognize Kosovo as an independent state, and also confront the corruption, criminality and poor governance that dashed the high hopes that attended the end of Serbian rule.

Nazlie Bala, a women’s activist who was a KLA helper during the war, said Bogujevci’s strength and resolve had made her an emblem of Kosovo’s ordeals and hopes: “She is a survivor. She is strong as stone. She is our truth.”

As Bogujevci takes her place in the new legislature, which will select Kosovo’s president, she wants to see that job, the country’s highest office, go to another woman and fellow wartime survivor, Vjosa Osmani, 38.

Osmani — who has been acting president since November, when the male incumbent was arrested on war crimes charges — is expected to be selected outright in the coming days. Osmani, who ran for election on the same ticket as Bogujevci, won more votes than any other candidate — and also more votes than anyone else since Kosovo started holding elections two decades ago.

Her appeal is particularly strong among young people and women, more than 60% of whom, according to exit polls, voted for a slate of candidates that she led along with Albin Kurti, a longtime champion of progressive causes.

When Osmani fled as a young girl with her parents from their home in northern Kosovo in 1999 to escape pogroms of ethnic Albanians, they were stopped on the road by Serbian soldiers who threatened to kill her father. She had a gun barrel thrust into her mouth when she protested.

Such traumas, she said, “touched every family in Kosovo” and help explain public anger and frustration over the country’s stumbling postwar progress.

Her performance in the election, Osmani said in an interview, shows that “Kosovo is not only ready for a female president, but voted for one,” despite entrenched misogyny and a “patriarchal mentality built up over centuries.”

Osmani was thrust into a leadership role in November when Kosovo’s president, veteran guerrilla commander Hashim Thaci, resigned and was then detained to face war crimes charges at a tribunal in the Netherlands. She took over as acting president because of her position as speaker of parliament.

As speaker, Osmani was regularly insulted and threatened by male rivals. When she disconnected the microphone of an unruly legislator last year, he stormed up to her, screaming curses. A video of the incident circulated online, convincing even skeptics that Osmani, an expert in international law and former professor at the University of Pittsburgh, could hold her own and bring real change.

“This made me realize that we had a chance, that she is not just bargaining for power and will stand up for herself and all of us,” said Elife Krasniqi, a Kosovar anthropologist who researches Balkan women’s movements at the University of Graz in Austria.

A rival would-be president, Ramush Haradinaj, a wartime KLA commander and former nightclub bouncer, said during the campaign that Serbia would cheer if Osmani were selected because it feared a strong male leader like himself, preferring a “weak woman.”

An ally of Haradinaj’s derided Osmani as a “fat woman.” After a public uproar, he said that he had been misunderstood and that he had meant she was “fat in the brain.”

Such appeals to machismo did not help in the election: Haradinaj’s party won only 7% of the vote.

The challenges facing the new female lawmakers are immense. Corruption is rampant, inequality huge and development scarce. Nearly a third of the population is unemployed, with a jobless rate at over 50% for young people and 80% for women, by some counts. Bala, the activist, said that while 60% of university graduates each year are women, 70% of job offers go to men.

Many of the female candidates explicitly targeted those issues in their campaigning.

Doarsa Kica, a 30-year-old lawyer, gave up her job to run on an anti-corruption platform, citing encounters in court with corrupt judges and anger at politicians “who live in million-dollar houses when they only have a $1,000 monthly salary.” Kica joined the ticket of Osmani, her former professor at Pristina University, and won a seat.

The emergence of women in Kosovo politics has been a long, painful process.

Kosovo has had one female president, but that was the result of a backroom deal engineered by the United States, which led a NATO bombing campaign that broke Serbia’s grip on the territory in 1999 and has since played a major role in its affairs.

The United Nations, which administered Kosovo for nearly a decade after the war, also imposed a quota system in 2000 that guaranteed women 30% of the seats in parliament.

But with voters now accustomed to women in parliament and disenchanted with many male politicians, female candidates are winning representation outright. Bogujevci, for instance, first entered parliament in 2017 under the quota system but, after doubling her vote count on Feb. 14, won on her own.

Igballe Rogova, a women’s rights activist, said voters were now looking at female candidates “not as quota women, but as politicians who make promises and keep them and deserve votes.”

Kurti, who leads a center-left party that joined forces with Osmani, has a strong record of promoting women. Briefly prime minister last year, he put women in charge of one-third of Kosovo’s ministries. Previous governments appointed just one or none.

The joint election ticket he headed with Osmani pledged that all state agencies and enterprises would be ordered to enforce hiring equality. Governments dominated by former KLA commanders had for years resisted giving women who had fought in the war the status and pensions accorded to male fighters.

Bala, the activist, who carried a gun in the war, said that many women had taken part in the armed struggle against Serbian forces but were later written out of the script. “A myth was created that only men are strong and can fight,” she said.

(BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.)

Another fraught issue has been whether rape survivors, of which there were thousands during the war, should be recognized as war victims entitled to a monthly government stipend.

Legislation allowing rape survivors to apply for compensation was passed in 2014 after intense lobbying by Osmani. That was despite demands from some male legislators that women who had been raped in the 1990s get a medical certificate from a doctor — more than 20 years later — to prove that they were not lying.

Such demands, Osmani said, were “ridiculous and very insulting toward women.”

Bogujevci’s road to parliament was also a long one. “I always said I would never enter politics,” she said in an interview in her family’s hometown, Podujeva.

She was flown to Britain for medical treatment soon after the fighting ended, and spent nearly 15 years building a new life in Manchester in the north of England, but started making increasingly frequent trips back to her home region.

She testified against her family’s killers before a court in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and exhibited an art display she had created chronicling her family’s story. She has now moved back to Kosovo, where strangers stop her on the street to voice admiration and support.

Like most Kosovo towns, Podujeva has a hulking war monument in its center featuring statues of burly men with guns. When Bogujevci visited before the election, however, she immediately became the center of attention, thronged by well-wishers.

Bokim Gashe, standing in the snow outside his wife’s tailoring business, said he would “of course” vote for her.

“She is stronger than all the men around here,” he said.

PODUJEVA, Kosovo — Saranda Bogujevci gazed without flinching at a cluster of bullet holes left in the garden wall by a massacre two decades ago that wiped out most of her family and put 16 rounds into her own body.

PODUJEVA, Kosovo — Saranda Bogujevci gazed without flinching at a cluster of bullet holes left in the garden wall by a massacre two decades ago that wiped out most of her family and put 16 rounds into her own body. She said her mind had erased visual memories of the slaughter by the Scorpions, a Serb paramilitary unit. But, she said, “I can still smell the earth mixed with the smell of blood.” Bogujevci’s against-the-odds survival — she was left for dead in a heap of bodies in her neighbor’s garden — and her subsequent determination to testify against the men who murdered her mother, grandmother, two brothers and four other relatives have made her a symbol of uncommon fortitude in Kosovo, a land still scarred by the traumas of war in the 1990s. But Bogujevci, 35, is far more than a symbol. She is part of an unlikely wave of women being elected to parliament in Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 and remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. When final results of a Feb. 14 election were finally announced Thursday in Pristina, the capital, they showed that women had won more seats in parliament than ever before — nearly 40% of the total. That surge reflects growing discontent with the endemic corruption and bullying ways of a postwar order dominated by swaggering male veterans of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the now disbanded guerrilla force that battled Serbia and paved the way for Kosovo’s declaration of independence. These elected women have convinced voters that they can stand up to Serbia, which has refused to recognize Kosovo as an independent state, and also confront the corruption, criminality and poor governance that dashed the high hopes that attended the end of Serbian rule. Nazlie Bala, a women’s activist who was a KLA helper during the war, said Bogujevci’s strength and resolve had made her an emblem of Kosovo’s ordeals and hopes: “She is a survivor. She is strong as stone. She is our truth.” As Bogujevci takes her place in the new legislature, which will select Kosovo’s president, she wants to see that job, the country’s highest office, go to another woman and fellow wartime survivor, Vjosa Osmani, 38. Osmani — who has been acting president since November, when the male incumbent was arrested on war crimes charges — is expected to be selected outright in the coming days. Osmani, who ran for election on the same ticket as Bogujevci, won more votes than any other candidate — and also more votes than anyone else since Kosovo started holding elections two decades ago. Her appeal is particularly strong among young people and women, more than 60% of whom, according to exit polls, voted for a slate of candidates that she led along with Albin Kurti, a longtime champion of progressive causes. When Osmani fled as a young girl with her parents from their home in northern Kosovo in 1999 to escape pogroms of ethnic Albanians, they were stopped on the road by Serbian soldiers who threatened to kill her father. She had a gun barrel thrust into her mouth when she protested. Such traumas, she said, “touched every family in Kosovo” and help explain public anger and frustration over the country’s stumbling postwar progress. Her performance in the election, Osmani said in an interview, shows that “Kosovo is not only ready for a female president, but voted for one,” despite entrenched misogyny and a “patriarchal mentality built up over centuries.” Osmani was thrust into a leadership role in November when Kosovo’s president, veteran guerrilla commander Hashim Thaci, resigned and was then detained to face war crimes charges at a tribunal in the Netherlands. She took over as acting president because of her position as speaker of parliament. As speaker, Osmani was regularly insulted and threatened by male rivals. When she disconnected the microphone of an unruly legislator last year, he stormed up to her, screaming curses. A video of the incident circulated online, convincing even skeptics that Osmani, an expert in international law and former professor at the University of Pittsburgh, could hold her own and bring real change. “This made me realize that we had a chance, that she is not just bargaining for power and will stand up for herself and all of us,” said Elife Krasniqi, a Kosovar anthropologist who researches Balkan women’s movements at the University of Graz in Austria. A rival would-be president, Ramush Haradinaj, a wartime KLA commander and former nightclub bouncer, said during the campaign that Serbia would cheer if Osmani were selected because it feared a strong male leader like himself, preferring a “weak woman.” An ally of Haradinaj’s derided Osmani as a “fat woman.” After a public uproar, he said that he had been misunderstood and that he had meant she was “fat in the brain.” Such appeals to machismo did not help in the election: Haradinaj’s party won only 7% of the vote. The challenges facing the new female lawmakers are immense. Corruption is rampant, inequality huge and development scarce. Nearly a third of the population is unemployed, with a jobless rate at over 50% for young people and 80% for women, by some counts. Bala, the activist, said that while 60% of university graduates each year are women, 70% of job offers go to men. Many of the female candidates explicitly targeted those issues in their campaigning. Doarsa Kica, a 30-year-old lawyer, gave up her job to run on an anti-corruption platform, citing encounters in court with corrupt judges and anger at politicians “who live in million-dollar houses when they only have a $1,000 monthly salary.” Kica joined the ticket of Osmani, her former professor at Pristina University, and won a seat. The emergence of women in Kosovo politics has been a long, painful process. Kosovo has had one female president, but that was the result of a backroom deal engineered by the United States, which led a NATO bombing campaign that broke Serbia’s grip on the territory in 1999 and has since played a major role in its affairs. The United Nations, which administered Kosovo for nearly a decade after the war, also imposed a quota system in 2000 that guaranteed women 30% of the seats in parliament. But with voters now accustomed to women in parliament and disenchanted with many male politicians, female candidates are winning representation outright. Bogujevci, for instance, first entered parliament in 2017 under the quota system but, after doubling her vote count on Feb. 14, won on her own. Igballe Rogova, a women’s rights activist, said voters were now looking at female candidates “not as quota women, but as politicians who make promises and keep them and deserve votes.” Kurti, who leads a center-left party that joined forces with Osmani, has a strong record of promoting women. Briefly prime minister last year, he put women in charge of one-third of Kosovo’s ministries. Previous governments appointed just one or none. The joint election ticket he headed with Osmani pledged that all state agencies and enterprises would be ordered to enforce hiring equality. Governments dominated by former KLA commanders had for years resisted giving women who had fought in the war the status and pensions accorded to male fighters. Bala, the activist, who carried a gun in the war, said that many women had taken part in the armed struggle against Serbian forces but were later written out of the script. “A myth was created that only men are strong and can fight,” she said. (BEGIN OPTIONAL TRIM.) Another fraught issue has been whether rape survivors, of which there were thousands during the war, should be recognized as war victims entitled to a monthly government stipend. Legislation allowing rape survivors to apply for compensation was passed in 2014 after intense lobbying by Osmani. That was despite demands from some male legislators that women who had been raped in the 1990s get a medical certificate from a doctor — more than 20 years later — to prove that they were not lying. Such demands, Osmani said, were “ridiculous and very insulting toward women.” Bogujevci’s road to parliament was also a long one. “I always said I would never enter politics,” she said in an interview in her family’s hometown, Podujeva. She was flown to Britain for medical treatment soon after the fighting ended, and spent nearly 15 years building a new life in Manchester in the north of England, but started making increasingly frequent trips back to her home region. She testified against her family’s killers before a court in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and exhibited an art display she had created chronicling her family’s story. She has now moved back to Kosovo, where strangers stop her on the street to voice admiration and support. Like most Kosovo towns, Podujeva has a hulking war monument in its center featuring statues of burly men with guns. When Bogujevci visited before the election, however, she immediately became the center of attention, thronged by well-wishers. Bokim Gashe, standing in the snow outside his wife’s tailoring business, said he would “of course” vote for her. “She is stronger than all the men around here,” he said.

In a land dominated by ex-rebels, Kosovo women find power at the ballot box

Kosovo heads to the polls Sunday in a vote pitting a left-wing reformist party against traditional elites who have run the former Serbian province for the past decade.

Here are the main players vying to win Kosovo's fifth election since its 2008 independence.&nbsp;

Reformers

Pollsters are betting on a victory for the left-wing nationalist party Vetevendosje (VV) of Albin Kurti, a reformist promising to root out corruption.

Particularly popular among young people and known for highly organised protests, VV won the last elections in 2019 by a single seat.

The party was forced to unite with the centre-right LDK, an alliance that crumbled after about 50 days, ejecting Kurti from power.

During his brief term at the helm, he started work on overhauling the structure of public companies, which NGOs say are hotbeds of graft and embezzlement.

The 45-year-old first made his name as a student activist in the 1990s, organising protests against the Serbian regime's repression of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority.

The activism landed Kurti in a Serbian jail for two years when he was in his 20s.&nbsp;

After Kosovo broke away from Serbia in the 1998-99 war, Kurti became a leading critic of both local leaders and the international community's outsized influence.

His VV movement -- whose name means "self-determination" -- became known for sometimes violent protests while MPs resorted to radical antics such as unleashing tear gas in parliament.

Kurti himself is banned from putting his name on the ballot because of an 18-month suspended prison sentence in 2018 for the tear gas incident.&nbsp;

It does not, however, prevent him from being chosen as PM if his party wins.

Leaderless rebels

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) founded by former war heroes from the 1990 conflict with Serbian forces has been the dominant political player in Kosovo since it declared independence in 2008.

But the party will now run without its top two leaders, both held in The Hague where they face trials on war crimes charges linked to the 1998-99 conflict.&nbsp;

Former president Hashim Thaci, Kosovo's most powerful politician and the ex-political chief of the rebel forces, and his right-hand-man Kadri Veseli have been jailed in the Netherlands since November.

The party is now led by former foreign minister Enver Hoxhaj, 52, who until now worked in the shadows of the former commanders.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Outgoing centrists

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) of outgoing Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti heads into the elections without its most popular member.

Vjosa Osmani, a 38-year-old law professor and the acting president, has decided to join Kurti's camp.

The party was founded by the late Ibrahim Rugova, known as the "father of the nation" for leading the peaceful resistance of Kosovo's ethnic Albanians against Belgrade's repression.

The party won every vote after the 1998-99 war until Rugova's death in 2006.

Since then, while the LDK has not won any electoral victories, it has been a key coalition partner, making and breaking ruling alliances.&nbsp;

In March last year it brought down the government it formed with Vetevendosje by passing a motion of no confidence.

The party faced criticism for that move after they struck a new alliance with parties its supporters had voted against.

Hoti, a 45-year-old professor of economics, is running again for PM — but the party's leader Isa Mustafa is believed to pull the strings.

Serbs

Kosovo's Serb minority, estimated to number around 120,000, is guaranteed 10 seats in the 120-member assembly.

The scene is dominated by the Srpska Lista, a party closely aligned with Belgrade, which still considers Kosovo a renegade territory.&nbsp;

The Serbs have sometimes played the role of kingmaker, as in 2017 with the coalition government formed by Ramush Haradinaj, another former commander, elected by their votes.&nbsp;

Another 10 seats are reserved in parliament for other minorities such as the Roma.&nbsp;

Kosovo heads to the polls Sunday in a vote pitting a left-wing reformist party against traditional elites who have run the former Serbian province for the past decade.

Kosovo heads to the polls Sunday in a vote pitting a left-wing reformist party against traditional elites who have run the former Serbian province for the past decade. Here are the main players vying to win Kosovo's fifth election since its 2008 independence. Reformers Pollsters are betting on a victory for the left-wing nationalist party Vetevendosje (VV) of Albin Kurti, a reformist promising to root out corruption. Particularly popular among young people and known for highly organised protests, VV won the last elections in 2019 by a single seat. The party was forced to unite with the centre-right LDK, an alliance that crumbled after about 50 days, ejecting Kurti from power. During his brief term at the helm, he started work on overhauling the structure of public companies, which NGOs say are hotbeds of graft and embezzlement. The 45-year-old first made his name as a student activist in the 1990s, organising protests against the Serbian regime's repression of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority. The activism landed Kurti in a Serbian jail for two years when he was in his 20s. After Kosovo broke away from Serbia in the 1998-99 war, Kurti became a leading critic of both local leaders and the international community's outsized influence. His VV movement -- whose name means "self-determination" -- became known for sometimes violent protests while MPs resorted to radical antics such as unleashing tear gas in parliament. Kurti himself is banned from putting his name on the ballot because of an 18-month suspended prison sentence in 2018 for the tear gas incident. It does not, however, prevent him from being chosen as PM if his party wins. Leaderless rebels The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) founded by former war heroes from the 1990 conflict with Serbian forces has been the dominant political player in Kosovo since it declared independence in 2008. But the party will now run without its top two leaders, both held in The Hague where they face trials on war crimes charges linked to the 1998-99 conflict. Former president Hashim Thaci, Kosovo's most powerful politician and the ex-political chief of the rebel forces, and his right-hand-man Kadri Veseli have been jailed in the Netherlands since November. The party is now led by former foreign minister Enver Hoxhaj, 52, who until now worked in the shadows of the former commanders. Outgoing centrists The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) of outgoing Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti heads into the elections without its most popular member. Vjosa Osmani, a 38-year-old law professor and the acting president, has decided to join Kurti's camp. The party was founded by the late Ibrahim Rugova, known as the "father of the nation" for leading the peaceful resistance of Kosovo's ethnic Albanians against Belgrade's repression. The party won every vote after the 1998-99 war until Rugova's death in 2006. Since then, while the LDK has not won any electoral victories, it has been a key coalition partner, making and breaking ruling alliances. In March last year it brought down the government it formed with Vetevendosje by passing a motion of no confidence. The party faced criticism for that move after they struck a new alliance with parties its supporters had voted against. Hoti, a 45-year-old professor of economics, is running again for PM — but the party's leader Isa Mustafa is believed to pull the strings. Serbs Kosovo's Serb minority, estimated to number around 120,000, is guaranteed 10 seats in the 120-member assembly. The scene is dominated by the Srpska Lista, a party closely aligned with Belgrade, which still considers Kosovo a renegade territory. The Serbs have sometimes played the role of kingmaker, as in 2017 with the coalition government formed by Ramush Haradinaj, another former commander, elected by their votes. Another 10 seats are reserved in parliament for other minorities such as the Roma.

Kosovo poll contenders: Reformers vs leaderless rebels

Kosovars began voting on Sunday in a parliamentary election that an anti-establishment party is expected to win, further complicating Western efforts to resolve the country`s decades-long territorial dispute with Serbia.

Opinion polls suggest the Vetevendosje party will win 45% to 55% of the vote among ethnic Albanians, who make up 90% of Kosovo`s 1.9 million population. While that would be nearly double its result in a 2019 election, the party may still need a partner to govern.

Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti, who served as prime minister for five months last year, has won support on pledges to fight widespread corruption and on a stance that there should be no compromise in a dialogue with Serbia, which lost control over Kosovo in 1999 after NATO bombed its forces.

"Kosovo as an independent state, this Sunday, is returning to its people as the source of sovereignty," Kurti told reporters after casting his ballot. "We should vote with love for the country"

The state election commission said turnout by 11 a.m. (1000 GMT) was 8.3%, one percentage point lower than in the last election in 2019, mainly due to freezing temperatures.

If Vetevendosje does not secure a majority of 61 seats it may have to join forces with either the now-ruling Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), or the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) or Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK).

"There are a lot of challenges ahead of us, we have the issue with Serbia, the pandemic situation and strengthening the state," Ramush Haradinaj, whose AAK is seen as a potential kingmaker, said after casting his ballot.

Serbia, backed by Russia, does not recognise Kosovo`s independence, citing the need to protect the rights of its Serb minority. Negotiators from the European Union and the United States have failed to secure a compromise to allow

Kosovo to join international bodies such as the United Nations and NATO.

With one third of its workforce unemployed and a gross domestic product per capita of $4,300, Kosovo remains the poorest country in the Western Balkan region. 
"People want jobs, we want to get rid of corruption," said Luljeta Emini after she cast her ballot in Pristina. 
Polling stations will close at 7 p.m. (1800 GMT), and the first official results are expected a few hours later.

Kosovars began voting on Sunday in a parliamentary election that an anti-establishment party is expected to win, further complicating Western efforts to resolve the country`s decades-long territorial dispute with Serbia.

Kosovars began voting on Sunday in a parliamentary election that an anti-establishment party is expected to win, further complicating Western efforts to resolve the country`s decades-long territorial dispute with Serbia. Opinion polls suggest the Vetevendosje party will win 45% to 55% of the vote among ethnic Albanians, who make up 90% of Kosovo`s 1.9 million population. While that would be nearly double its result in a 2019 election, the party may still need a partner to govern. Vetevendosje leader Albin Kurti, who served as prime minister for five months last year, has won support on pledges to fight widespread corruption and on a stance that there should be no compromise in a dialogue with Serbia, which lost control over Kosovo in 1999 after NATO bombed its forces. "Kosovo as an independent state, this Sunday, is returning to its people as the source of sovereignty," Kurti told reporters after casting his ballot. "We should vote with love for the country" The state election commission said turnout by 11 a.m. (1000 GMT) was 8.3%, one percentage point lower than in the last election in 2019, mainly due to freezing temperatures. If Vetevendosje does not secure a majority of 61 seats it may have to join forces with either the now-ruling Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), or the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) or Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK). "There are a lot of challenges ahead of us, we have the issue with Serbia, the pandemic situation and strengthening the state," Ramush Haradinaj, whose AAK is seen as a potential kingmaker, said after casting his ballot. Serbia, backed by Russia, does not recognise Kosovo`s independence, citing the need to protect the rights of its Serb minority. Negotiators from the European Union and the United States have failed to secure a compromise to allow Kosovo to join international bodies such as the United Nations and NATO. With one third of its workforce unemployed and a gross domestic product per capita of $4,300, Kosovo remains the poorest country in the Western Balkan region. "People want jobs, we want to get rid of corruption," said Luljeta Emini after she cast her ballot in Pristina. Polling stations will close at 7 p.m. (1800 GMT), and the first official results are expected a few hours later.

Kosovo votes in election that could complicate dialogue with Serbia

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, a wartime hero turned politician, was arrested and transferred to the detention center of the Kosovo Tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Thursday to face charges of war crimes.

Thaci had resigned with immediate effect earlier in the day after learning that the tribunal had confirmed a war crimes indictment against him.

Thaci and three other former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) are accused of overseeing illegal detention facilities where the movement`s opponents were kept in inhumane conditions, tortured and sometimes killed.

Thaci has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He told a news conference in the Kosovo capital Pristina that he felt his resignation was necessary "to protect the integrity of the state".

Thaci arrived at Pristina's military airport in the afternoon and was flown to The Hague, where he was taken into custody by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers.

The move could bring political instability to Kosovo, a young democracy where the 52-year-old former guerrilla became the first prime minister in 2008 and was elected president in 2016.

Prosecutors in July said they hold Thaci responsible for nearly 100 murders of civilians during the 1998-99 war when he was a KLA commander who fought the Serbian police and army.

Thaci, a US-backed national hero, embarked on his political career after leading the KLA`s battle against forces under late Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.

Ties with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump deepened in September, when Kosovo and Serbia signed an economic relations deal at the White House.

The European Union on Thursday welcomed Thaci`s cooperation with the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, where he is expected to come before a pre-trial judge in coming days.

The tribunal was set up in 2015 to handle cases relating to the war that led to Kosovo`s independence from Serbia a decade later in 2008. The court is governed by Kosovo law but staffed by international judges and prosecutors.

Anger in Kosovo

Many in Kosovo oppose the war crimes court and see the KLA commanders as heroes.

"I think a big injustice is being committed here by putting on trial our liberators," economist Fejzullah Ibrahimi told Reuters at a market in Pristina.

NATO bombed Belgrade in 1999 with U.S. support to halt the killings and expulsions of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo by Serb forces.

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International said the indictment against Thaci gave hope to thousands of victims of the war "who have waited for more than two decades to find out the truth about the horrific crimes."

In Belgrade, lawmaker Milovan Drecun who is chairman of the Serbian parliamentary committee for Kosovo said the indictment proved that "establishing the truth about war crimes of the KLA and punishing those responsible is an irreversible process."

In July, Thaci met the prosecutors in The Hague to discuss the allegations against him.

Another three Kosovo politicians and former KLA members - Rexhep Selimi, a deputy in the Kosovo parliament, Kadri Veseli, the president of Thaci`s Kosovo Democratic Party, and veteran Kosovo politician Jakup Krasniqi - were transferred to The Hague on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity on Wednesday and Thursday, the tribunal said.

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, a wartime hero turned politician, was arrested and transferred to the detention center of the Kosovo Tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Thursday to face charges of war crimes.

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, a wartime hero turned politician, was arrested and transferred to the detention center of the Kosovo Tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Thursday to face charges of war crimes. Thaci had resigned with immediate effect earlier in the day after learning that the tribunal had confirmed a war crimes indictment against him. Thaci and three other former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) are accused of overseeing illegal detention facilities where the movement`s opponents were kept in inhumane conditions, tortured and sometimes killed. Thaci has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. He told a news conference in the Kosovo capital Pristina that he felt his resignation was necessary "to protect the integrity of the state". Thaci arrived at Pristina's military airport in the afternoon and was flown to The Hague, where he was taken into custody by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers. The move could bring political instability to Kosovo, a young democracy where the 52-year-old former guerrilla became the first prime minister in 2008 and was elected president in 2016. Prosecutors in July said they hold Thaci responsible for nearly 100 murders of civilians during the 1998-99 war when he was a KLA commander who fought the Serbian police and army. Thaci, a US-backed national hero, embarked on his political career after leading the KLA`s battle against forces under late Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. Ties with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump deepened in September, when Kosovo and Serbia signed an economic relations deal at the White House. The European Union on Thursday welcomed Thaci`s cooperation with the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, where he is expected to come before a pre-trial judge in coming days. The tribunal was set up in 2015 to handle cases relating to the war that led to Kosovo`s independence from Serbia a decade later in 2008. The court is governed by Kosovo law but staffed by international judges and prosecutors. Anger in Kosovo Many in Kosovo oppose the war crimes court and see the KLA commanders as heroes. "I think a big injustice is being committed here by putting on trial our liberators," economist Fejzullah Ibrahimi told Reuters at a market in Pristina. NATO bombed Belgrade in 1999 with U.S. support to halt the killings and expulsions of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo by Serb forces. Human rights watchdog Amnesty International said the indictment against Thaci gave hope to thousands of victims of the war "who have waited for more than two decades to find out the truth about the horrific crimes." In Belgrade, lawmaker Milovan Drecun who is chairman of the Serbian parliamentary committee for Kosovo said the indictment proved that "establishing the truth about war crimes of the KLA and punishing those responsible is an irreversible process." In July, Thaci met the prosecutors in The Hague to discuss the allegations against him. Another three Kosovo politicians and former KLA members - Rexhep Selimi, a deputy in the Kosovo parliament, Kadri Veseli, the president of Thaci`s Kosovo Democratic Party, and veteran Kosovo politician Jakup Krasniqi - were transferred to The Hague on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity on Wednesday and Thursday, the tribunal said.

Kosovo President Thaci arrested, moved to The Hague to face war crimes charges

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci resigned with immediate effect on Thursday after learning that the Kosovo war crimes tribunal had confirmed his indictment for war crimes.

It comes as a dramatic downfall for a politician who has dominated the former Serbian province for over a decade.

The 52-year-old said he would step down to appear before the court after it confirmed an indictment&nbsp;against him dating back to the 1990s conflict with Serbia, when Thaci was political chief of Kosovo's rebel army.&nbsp;

"I will not allow under any circumstances that I appear before court as the president of the Republic of Kosovo. Therefore, in order to protect the integrity of the office of the president and the country, as well as the dignity of the citizens, I resign from the position of president of the Republic of Kosovo," Thaci told a press conference in the capital Pristina.

He has long insisted on his innocence in a war that most people in Kosovo, which is home mainly to ethnic Albanians, consider a "just" struggle for their independence from Serbian oppression.&nbsp;

"These are not easy moments for me and my family, and for those who have supported and believed in me in the past three decades of our struggle for freedom, independence and nation-building," Thaci added.&nbsp;

In June, prosecutors accused him of ten counts of crimes including charges of murder, enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture.

Thaci did not say which specific charges had been confirmed, while the prosecutors declined to comment.&nbsp;

Set up with EU-backing in 2015, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) operates under Kosovo law but is based in The Hague to protect witnesses from intimidation in a society where many former rebel commanders still dominate politics.

&nbsp;

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci resigned with immediate effect on Thursday after learning that the Kosovo war crimes tribunal had confirmed his indictment for war crimes.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci resigned with immediate effect on Thursday after learning that the Kosovo war crimes tribunal had confirmed his indictment for war crimes. It comes as a dramatic downfall for a politician who has dominated the former Serbian province for over a decade. The 52-year-old said he would step down to appear before the court after it confirmed an indictment against him dating back to the 1990s conflict with Serbia, when Thaci was political chief of Kosovo's rebel army. "I will not allow under any circumstances that I appear before court as the president of the Republic of Kosovo. Therefore, in order to protect the integrity of the office of the president and the country, as well as the dignity of the citizens, I resign from the position of president of the Republic of Kosovo," Thaci told a press conference in the capital Pristina. He has long insisted on his innocence in a war that most people in Kosovo, which is home mainly to ethnic Albanians, consider a "just" struggle for their independence from Serbian oppression. "These are not easy moments for me and my family, and for those who have supported and believed in me in the past three decades of our struggle for freedom, independence and nation-building," Thaci added. In June, prosecutors accused him of ten counts of crimes including charges of murder, enforced disappearance of persons, persecution, and torture. Thaci did not say which specific charges had been confirmed, while the prosecutors declined to comment. Set up with EU-backing in 2015, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) operates under Kosovo law but is based in The Hague to protect witnesses from intimidation in a society where many former rebel commanders still dominate politics.

Kosovo President Thaci resigns after being indicted over war crimes

The&nbsp;US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> said during a campaign rally in North Carolina that he could qualify for the Nobel Peace Prize, for which he, in fact, was nominated this year, for brokering a termination of decades-long "mass killings" between Serbia and Kosovo.

"Next story I`m sure it`s a Nobel Prize for peace. We are stopping mass killings between Kosovo and Serbia. They have been killing each other for so many [years]. They are going to stop killing. I said `fellas, let`s get together.` You know, they`ve been doing it for hundreds of years frankly under different names," Trump said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-nominate-a-woman-to-replace-ginsburg-stating-he-likes-women-more-328748">Also read:&nbsp;Trump to nominate a woman to replace Ginsburg stating he likes 'women more'</a>

Trump was nominated for Nobel earlier this month by a Norwegian lawmaker for his efforts brokering a landmark peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. A similar agreement was signed shortly later between Israel and Bahrain under Washington`s mediation.

In mid-September, Trump hosted talks between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, but no particular breakthrough was achieved to resolve their strife.

Formerly a province of Serbia, Kosovo shook to an armed confrontation between Serbian security forces and the Albanian-led Kosovo Liberation Army, seeking the status of a constituent republic for Kosovo in what was then Yugoslavia. The conflict triggered unauthorized NATO airstrikes in the region from March 1999 to June 1999 on the grounds that the Yugoslav authorities were allegedly committing ethnic cleansing against Kosovar Albanians.

Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia in February 2008 and has since been seeking to gain recognition. Serbia has not recognised Kosovo`s independence and launched a campaign to convince other countries to not recognise it either.&nbsp;

The US President Donald Trump said during a campaign rally in North Carolina that he could qualify for the Nobel Peace Prize, for which he, in fact, was nominated this year, for brokering a termination of decades-long "mass killings" between Serbia and Kosovo.

The US President Donald Trump said during a campaign rally in North Carolina that he could qualify for the Nobel Peace Prize, for which he, in fact, was nominated this year, for brokering a termination of decades-long "mass killings" between Serbia and Kosovo. "Next story I`m sure it`s a Nobel Prize for peace. We are stopping mass killings between Kosovo and Serbia. They have been killing each other for so many [years]. They are going to stop killing. I said `fellas, let`s get together.` You know, they`ve been doing it for hundreds of years frankly under different names," Trump said. Also read: Trump to nominate a woman to replace Ginsburg stating he likes 'women more' Trump was nominated for Nobel earlier this month by a Norwegian lawmaker for his efforts brokering a landmark peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. A similar agreement was signed shortly later between Israel and Bahrain under Washington`s mediation. In mid-September, Trump hosted talks between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti, but no particular breakthrough was achieved to resolve their strife. Formerly a province of Serbia, Kosovo shook to an armed confrontation between Serbian security forces and the Albanian-led Kosovo Liberation Army, seeking the status of a constituent republic for Kosovo in what was then Yugoslavia. The conflict triggered unauthorized NATO airstrikes in the region from March 1999 to June 1999 on the grounds that the Yugoslav authorities were allegedly committing ethnic cleansing against Kosovar Albanians. Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia in February 2008 and has since been seeking to gain recognition. Serbia has not recognised Kosovo`s independence and launched a campaign to convince other countries to not recognise it either.

Trump claims stopped ''mass killings'' between Serbia, Kosovo

Serie A side Lazio on Tuesday confirmed the signing of Kosovo international striker Vedat Muriqi from Turkish club Fenerbahce. "Lazio announces the definitive purchase of the player Vedat Muriqi from Fenerbahce," the Roman club said in a brief statement.

Serie A side Lazio on Tuesday confirmed the signing of Kosovo international striker Vedat Muriqi from Turkish club Fenerbahce. "Lazio announces the definitive purchase of the player Vedat Muriqi from Fenerbahce," the Roman club said in a brief statement. Muriqi will join Serie A's top scorer Ciro Immobile in the club as Lazio returns to Champions League football this season. Simone Inzaghi's side is reported to have spent 20 million euros ($23 million) for the services of the 26-year-old forward on a five-year deal. The Italian top-flight kicks off this weekend but Lazio's opener against Atalanta has been pushed back until September 30 because of the Bergamo club's Champions League 'Final Eight' campaign last month. The Italian club came fourth in last season and will begin with their Serie A campaign against Cagliari on September 26. Talking about transfers, Dutch daily De Telegraaf on Tuesday reported that Lyon striker Memphis Depay has completed his transfer to Barcelona which is worth 25 million euros ($29.6 million). Depay has been regularly a part of the playing XI when Ronald Koeman (current Barcelona coach) was in charge of the national team, and if the deal is successful the Dutch striker will join Frenkie de Jong. "Barcelona hope to confirm officially the transfer and introduce Depay to Camp Nou later in the week," said De Telegraaf. (Inputs from AFP)

Lazio sign Kosovo striker Vedat Muriqi

A rare spat between traditional allies Moscow and Belgrade was triggered apparently by the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman ridiculing Serbia's president after he signed a US-sponsored agreement between his nation and Kosovo.

Maria Zakharova posted a photo showing Vucic sitting across US President Donald Trump at his Oval Office table.

She posted that along with another photo, the scene from thriller "Basic Instinct" showing Sharon Stone being questioned by police as she sits cross-legged in a chair.

Zakkharova mocked Vucic in a comment on the Facebook post, saying that he was invited to the White House to be interrogated.

This did not go down well with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other officials.

"The primitivism and vulgarity she showed speaks about herself, but also about those who have given her the job," Vucic told the pro-government Pink TV.

Marko Djuric, an official with Vucic's ruling party, defended him on Twitter. "This president did not say a single bad word against Russia, not even in that place (the White House.) The president waited for an hour and half to be received by the Russian president and never asked for a special chair. I will not allow you to attack proud Serbia. Shame on you!" Djuric wrote.

Zakharova apologised on Twitter later Sunday, saying her post had been misinterpreted.

Trump announced Friday that former wartime foes Serbia and Kosovo had agreed to normalise economic ties as part of US-brokered talks that include Belgrade moving its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, and mutual recognition between Israel and Kosovo.

The announcement provided Trump with a diplomatic win ahead of the November presidential election and furthers his administration's push to improve Israel's international standing.

A rare spat between traditional allies Moscow and Belgrade was triggered apparently by the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman ridiculing Serbia's president after he signed a US-sponsored agreement between his nation and Kosovo.

A rare spat between traditional allies Moscow and Belgrade was triggered apparently by the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman ridiculing Serbia's president after he signed a US-sponsored agreement between his nation and Kosovo. Maria Zakharova posted a photo showing Vucic sitting across US President Donald Trump at his Oval Office table. She posted that along with another photo, the scene from thriller "Basic Instinct" showing Sharon Stone being questioned by police as she sits cross-legged in a chair. Zakkharova mocked Vucic in a comment on the Facebook post, saying that he was invited to the White House to be interrogated. This did not go down well with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and other officials. "The primitivism and vulgarity she showed speaks about herself, but also about those who have given her the job," Vucic told the pro-government Pink TV. Marko Djuric, an official with Vucic's ruling party, defended him on Twitter. "This president did not say a single bad word against Russia, not even in that place (the White House.) The president waited for an hour and half to be received by the Russian president and never asked for a special chair. I will not allow you to attack proud Serbia. Shame on you!" Djuric wrote. Zakharova apologised on Twitter later Sunday, saying her post had been misinterpreted. Trump announced Friday that former wartime foes Serbia and Kosovo had agreed to normalise economic ties as part of US-brokered talks that include Belgrade moving its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, and mutual recognition between Israel and Kosovo. The announcement provided Trump with a diplomatic win ahead of the November presidential election and furthers his administration's push to improve Israel's international standing.

Spat ensues between Serbia and Russia after US-brokered deal

Trump said that he looks forward to seeing Serbia and Kosovo prosper as "we work together on economic cooperation in the region going forward."

Video: Trump announces historic accord between former foes Serbia, Kosovo

Former foes Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on a historic pact to normalise economic relations, US President Donald Trump announced Friday at the White House.

"Today, I am pleased to announce yet another historic commitment.&nbsp;Serbia and Kosovo have each committed to economic normalisation," Trump said, with Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic sitting beside him in the Oval Office.

He was accompanied by President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti of Kosovo.

Moments later, the two leaders along with the President Trump signed the agreements.

Trump said that he looks forward to seeing Serbia and Kosovo prosper as "we work together on economic cooperation in the region going forward."

Although most of Kosovo is ethnically Albanian, many Serbs consider it their native homeland and a cradle of their culture. Some 13,000 people were killed in the 1998-1999 war, sparked by clashes between the forces of the rump Yugoslav state - Serbia and Montenegro - and Kosovo separatists. The conflict ended when NATO carried out an air campaign against Serbia.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008, but Serbia and its ally Russia have yet to recognise its sovereignty.

"After a violent and tragic history and years of failed negotiations, my administration proposed a new way of bridging the divide. By focusing on job creation and economic growth, the two countries were able to reach a real breakthrough on economic cooperation across a broad range of issues," Trump said.

The agreement is expected to be limited to the normalisation of some economic ties, including possibly opening up road, rail and air links between the former Balkan war foes.

Although the European Union has been trying without success for nearly a decade to thaw a bitter relationship between Serbia and its former territory, which declared independence in 2008, an effort focused on business and commerce was launched more recently by US officials.

But Serbia made clear during the talks that they would not go as far as recognizing Kosovo as a fully-fledged state.

During the signing ceremony, President Vucic said that Trump had done a "great job" and praised his commitment to the region.

Inviting him to Serbia, he said that Trump would be the first US President since Jimmy Carter visited the country in 1980.

Prime Minister Hoti termed it as a huge step forward.

Terming it as a historic day, National Security Advisor Robert O'Brian said the focus is on economic cooperation.

Vice President Mike Pence said that this is an important step for peace in the Balkans. 
Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin said that people from the two countries would see the benefit of economic agreement.

The two countries remain bitter over a bloody war fought two decades ago, in which 13,000 died.

(with inputs from agencies)

Former foes Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on a historic pact to normalise economic relations, US President Donald Trump announced Friday at the White House. "Today, I am pleased to announce yet another historic commitment.

Former foes Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on a historic pact to normalise economic relations, US President Donald Trump announced Friday at the White House. "Today, I am pleased to announce yet another historic commitment. Serbia and Kosovo have each committed to economic normalisation," Trump said, with Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic sitting beside him in the Oval Office. He was accompanied by President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti of Kosovo. Moments later, the two leaders along with the President Trump signed the agreements. Trump said that he looks forward to seeing Serbia and Kosovo prosper as "we work together on economic cooperation in the region going forward." Although most of Kosovo is ethnically Albanian, many Serbs consider it their native homeland and a cradle of their culture. Some 13,000 people were killed in the 1998-1999 war, sparked by clashes between the forces of the rump Yugoslav state - Serbia and Montenegro - and Kosovo separatists. The conflict ended when NATO carried out an air campaign against Serbia. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008, but Serbia and its ally Russia have yet to recognise its sovereignty. "After a violent and tragic history and years of failed negotiations, my administration proposed a new way of bridging the divide. By focusing on job creation and economic growth, the two countries were able to reach a real breakthrough on economic cooperation across a broad range of issues," Trump said. The agreement is expected to be limited to the normalisation of some economic ties, including possibly opening up road, rail and air links between the former Balkan war foes. Although the European Union has been trying without success for nearly a decade to thaw a bitter relationship between Serbia and its former territory, which declared independence in 2008, an effort focused on business and commerce was launched more recently by US officials. But Serbia made clear during the talks that they would not go as far as recognizing Kosovo as a fully-fledged state. During the signing ceremony, President Vucic said that Trump had done a "great job" and praised his commitment to the region. Inviting him to Serbia, he said that Trump would be the first US President since Jimmy Carter visited the country in 1980. Prime Minister Hoti termed it as a huge step forward. Terming it as a historic day, National Security Advisor Robert O'Brian said the focus is on economic cooperation. Vice President Mike Pence said that this is an important step for peace in the Balkans. Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin said that people from the two countries would see the benefit of economic agreement. The two countries remain bitter over a bloody war fought two decades ago, in which 13,000 died. (with inputs from agencies)

Trump announces historic accord between former foes Serbia, Kosovo

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He on late Sunday took to Facebook to let his countrymen know.

"Today I did the test for the COVID-19 and tested positive," Hoti wrote on his Facebook account.

The prime minister said he had started 14 days of self-isolation, during which he would perform his duties from home.

"I have no signs (of the disease), except a very mild cough."

Hoti took only over as prime minister in early June.

Kosovo, a nation of 1.8 million people, has so far registered some 249 deaths and nearly 9,000 infections.

Salko Bukvarevic, Bosnia's 53-year-old minister for veterans affairs, died in late June after contracting the coronavirus.

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He on late Sunday took to Facebook to let his countrymen know. "Today I did the test for the COVID-19 and tested positive," Hoti wrote on his Facebook account.

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He on late Sunday took to Facebook to let his countrymen know. "Today I did the test for the COVID-19 and tested positive," Hoti wrote on his Facebook account. The prime minister said he had started 14 days of self-isolation, during which he would perform his duties from home. "I have no signs (of the disease), except a very mild cough." Hoti took only over as prime minister in early June. Kosovo, a nation of 1.8 million people, has so far registered some 249 deaths and nearly 9,000 infections. Salko Bukvarevic, Bosnia's 53-year-old minister for veterans affairs, died in late June after contracting the coronavirus.

Kosovo PM tests positive for coronavirus

A planned White House summit between Belgrade and Pristina fell apart Thursday after Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti cancelled his trip to Washington, following the lead of President Hashim Thaci who scrapped the visit to face war crimes charges.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/newborn-mexican-triplets-test-covid-19-positive-parents-do-not-308451" hreflang="en">Newborn Mexican triplets test COVID-19 positive, parents do not</a>

Thaci pulled out of the trip Wednesday after special prosecutors in the Hague announced a slew of charges against the president for his role in Kosovo's 1998-99 war with Serbia, accusing him and other allies of involvement in nearly 100 murders.

That left Prime Minister Hoti to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on his own at the White House talks set for June 27.

But writing on Facebook Thursday, Hoti said he too would need to cancel.

"I have to return to Pristina to deal with the situation," he said, referring to the charges filed against Thaci and others.

The indictment still needs approval from a pre-trial judge but prosecutors said they decided to make the accusations public because Thaci had made "repeated attempts" to obstruct the court's work.

The EU-backed tribunal was established in 2015 to investigate crimes committed by independence-seeking ethnic Albanian guerrillas during and after the war with Serbia.

Twenty years later, tensions still linger between the neighbours, with Serbia refusing to accept the independence Kosovo declared in 2008.

The talks in Washington, organised by US envoy Richard Grenell, were supposed to bring the two sides together for the first time in months. President Donald Trump had not been expected to personally attend the talks.

A planned White House summit between Belgrade and Pristina fell apart Thursday after Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti cancelled his trip to Washington, following the lead of President Hashim Thaci who scrapped the visit to face war crimes charges.

A planned White House summit between Belgrade and Pristina fell apart Thursday after Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti cancelled his trip to Washington, following the lead of President Hashim Thaci who scrapped the visit to face war crimes charges. Also read: Newborn Mexican triplets test COVID-19 positive, parents do not Thaci pulled out of the trip Wednesday after special prosecutors in the Hague announced a slew of charges against the president for his role in Kosovo's 1998-99 war with Serbia, accusing him and other allies of involvement in nearly 100 murders. That left Prime Minister Hoti to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on his own at the White House talks set for June 27. But writing on Facebook Thursday, Hoti said he too would need to cancel. "I have to return to Pristina to deal with the situation," he said, referring to the charges filed against Thaci and others. The indictment still needs approval from a pre-trial judge but prosecutors said they decided to make the accusations public because Thaci had made "repeated attempts" to obstruct the court's work. The EU-backed tribunal was established in 2015 to investigate crimes committed by independence-seeking ethnic Albanian guerrillas during and after the war with Serbia. Twenty years later, tensions still linger between the neighbours, with Serbia refusing to accept the independence Kosovo declared in 2008. The talks in Washington, organised by US envoy Richard Grenell, were supposed to bring the two sides together for the first time in months. President Donald Trump had not been expected to personally attend the talks.

Kosovo PM cancels US trip after president faces war crimes indictment

Czech Republic punched their ticket to Euro 2020 by coming from behind to beat Kosovo 2-1 as Alex Kral scored one goal and set up another to give the hosts second spot in Group A on Thursday.

The Czechs dominated possession but failed to convert their chances in the first half before falling behind when striker Atdhe Nuhiu scored against the run of play in the 50th minute.

But the home side roared back and levelled in the 71st minute when midfielder Kral pounced on a loose ball and unleashed a fierce strike that gave the Kosovo keeper no chance.

The goal energised the Czechs who hit the woodwork twice in quick succession before 21-year-old Kral directed a header towards Ondrej Celustka who guided the ball home in the 79th.

"It's awesome," Kral said. "We worked to qualify and it's done. We reacted well to the Kosovo goal and now we're through."

The Czechs, who play Bulgaria on Sunday, have 15 points and will finish second in the group behind England who has 18 after thrashing Montenegro 7-0 at Wembley to secure the runners-up spot.

Czech Republic punched their ticket to Euro 2020 by coming from behind to beat Kosovo 2-1 as Alex Kral scored one goal and set up another to give the hosts second spot in Group A on Thursday.

Czech Republic punched their ticket to Euro 2020 by coming from behind to beat Kosovo 2-1 as Alex Kral scored one goal and set up another to give the hosts second spot in Group A on Thursday. The Czechs dominated possession but failed to convert their chances in the first half before falling behind when striker Atdhe Nuhiu scored against the run of play in the 50th minute. But the home side roared back and levelled in the 71st minute when midfielder Kral pounced on a loose ball and unleashed a fierce strike that gave the Kosovo keeper no chance. The goal energised the Czechs who hit the woodwork twice in quick succession before 21-year-old Kral directed a header towards Ondrej Celustka who guided the ball home in the 79th. "It's awesome," Kral said. "We worked to qualify and it's done. We reacted well to the Kosovo goal and now we're through." The Czechs, who play Bulgaria on Sunday, have 15 points and will finish second in the group behind England who has 18 after thrashing Montenegro 7-0 at Wembley to secure the runners-up spot.

Football: Czechs clinch Euro 2020 spot with 2-1 win over Kosovo

Voting centres opened in Kosovo on Sunday for national elections where the main issues for the country's 1.9 million eligible voters are tackling corruption and a peace deal with Serbia which would pave the way for United Nations membership.

The elections, the fourth since Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008, were called after Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned in July when he was summoned to appear before a war crimes court.

Haradinaj has been questioned over his role in the 1998-99 war as one of the commanders of the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) who fought for independence from Serbia.

"Voting was very easy but let’s see what our votes will bring,” said taxi driver Avdi Morina, 46, after voting in a sport hall in the capital Pristina.

"We want well-being and jobs for young people,” retired doctor Muharrem Bajrami said after casting his vote in the capital.

Opinion polls have pointed to public dissatisfaction with Haradinaj's record at the head of a three-party governing coalition which has boosted support for opposition parties.

Two of those parties, the Democratic League for Kosovo (LDK) and the nationalist, left-leaning Vetevendosje, are seen as front runners in Sunday's vote, along with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the largest party in the current coalition.

Arton Demhasaj, from the Cohu (Wake up) think tank in Pristina said the first task of the new government would be to restart negotiations with Serbia.

"The next government will be the government of the dialogue, from the first day to the last day, and only when the dialogue is over then we will have to deal with real issues such as corruption, education and the economy," Demhasaj told Reuters.

Negotiations were halted a year ago when the outgoing government imposed 100% tariffs on goods produced in Serbia. Most, but not all, of the parties contesting the polls have said that they will abolish the tariffs but will introduce other retaliatory measures against Serbia.

The United States and the European Union see tensions between Belgrade and Pristina as a major threat to regional stability and are pushing for a normalisation of relations.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump appointed Richard Grenell, the straight-talking US ambassador to Germany, as special envoy to try to inject new energy into the talks between Belgrade and Pristina.

Twenty years after NATO bombing expelled Serbian forces, Belgrade refuses to recognise Kosovo as independent and, in concert with its ally Russia, has blocked Pristina's membership of international organisations including the United Nations.

In 2013, Pristina and Belgrade agreed to an EU-mediated dialogue to normalise ties but little progress has been made.

Last year, Kosovan President Hashim Thaci and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signalled that they might agree to a land swap but they faced strong opposition to the idea domestically and abroad.

In Kosovo, all three parties LDK, Vetevendosje and PDK said the land swap was not acceptable.

EUROPE'S YOUNGEST POPULATION

Kosovo has Europe's youngest population, with an average age of 29, and has seen annual economic growth averaging 4% over the past decade, but it remains poor. Since Pristina won independence from Belgrade in 2008, more than 200,000 Kosovars have emigrated and applied for asylum in the European Union.

"It hurts me when I see young, educated people from Kosovo coming to Germany because they don't see a better future here," said Skender Nekaj, 44, who came from Germany to Kosovo to vote together with seven other family members.

The public sector is the biggest employer in the country but job applicants typically need political connections or to pay a bribe to find a job.

The European Union says corruption is "widespread" and Transparency International ranks Kosovo as a very corrupt country.

"If you have money you can buy justice here, if you have money you can buy health because you go to a private clinic. I don't have money. My vote is the only thing I have," said Qendrim Agushi, 32, a construction worker who earns 13 euros a day.

The election will be overseen by more than 34,000 monitors including 100 from the European Union.

Polls open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT). Preliminary official results are expected by midnight (2200 GMT).

Voting centres opened in Kosovo on Sunday for national elections where the main issues for the country's 1.9 million eligible voters are tackling corruption and a peace deal with Serbia which would pave the way for United Nations membership.

Voting centres opened in Kosovo on Sunday for national elections where the main issues for the country's 1.9 million eligible voters are tackling corruption and a peace deal with Serbia which would pave the way for United Nations membership. The elections, the fourth since Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008, were called after Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned in July when he was summoned to appear before a war crimes court. Haradinaj has been questioned over his role in the 1998-99 war as one of the commanders of the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) who fought for independence from Serbia. "Voting was very easy but let’s see what our votes will bring,” said taxi driver Avdi Morina, 46, after voting in a sport hall in the capital Pristina. "We want well-being and jobs for young people,” retired doctor Muharrem Bajrami said after casting his vote in the capital. Opinion polls have pointed to public dissatisfaction with Haradinaj's record at the head of a three-party governing coalition which has boosted support for opposition parties. Two of those parties, the Democratic League for Kosovo (LDK) and the nationalist, left-leaning Vetevendosje, are seen as front runners in Sunday's vote, along with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the largest party in the current coalition. Arton Demhasaj, from the Cohu (Wake up) think tank in Pristina said the first task of the new government would be to restart negotiations with Serbia. "The next government will be the government of the dialogue, from the first day to the last day, and only when the dialogue is over then we will have to deal with real issues such as corruption, education and the economy," Demhasaj told Reuters. Negotiations were halted a year ago when the outgoing government imposed 100% tariffs on goods produced in Serbia. Most, but not all, of the parties contesting the polls have said that they will abolish the tariffs but will introduce other retaliatory measures against Serbia. The United States and the European Union see tensions between Belgrade and Pristina as a major threat to regional stability and are pushing for a normalisation of relations. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump appointed Richard Grenell, the straight-talking US ambassador to Germany, as special envoy to try to inject new energy into the talks between Belgrade and Pristina. Twenty years after NATO bombing expelled Serbian forces, Belgrade refuses to recognise Kosovo as independent and, in concert with its ally Russia, has blocked Pristina's membership of international organisations including the United Nations. In 2013, Pristina and Belgrade agreed to an EU-mediated dialogue to normalise ties but little progress has been made. Last year, Kosovan President Hashim Thaci and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signalled that they might agree to a land swap but they faced strong opposition to the idea domestically and abroad. In Kosovo, all three parties LDK, Vetevendosje and PDK said the land swap was not acceptable. EUROPE'S YOUNGEST POPULATION Kosovo has Europe's youngest population, with an average age of 29, and has seen annual economic growth averaging 4% over the past decade, but it remains poor. Since Pristina won independence from Belgrade in 2008, more than 200,000 Kosovars have emigrated and applied for asylum in the European Union. "It hurts me when I see young, educated people from Kosovo coming to Germany because they don't see a better future here," said Skender Nekaj, 44, who came from Germany to Kosovo to vote together with seven other family members. The public sector is the biggest employer in the country but job applicants typically need political connections or to pay a bribe to find a job. The European Union says corruption is "widespread" and Transparency International ranks Kosovo as a very corrupt country. "If you have money you can buy justice here, if you have money you can buy health because you go to a private clinic. I don't have money. My vote is the only thing I have," said Qendrim Agushi, 32, a construction worker who earns 13 euros a day. The election will be overseen by more than 34,000 monitors including 100 from the European Union. Polls open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT). Preliminary official results are expected by midnight (2200 GMT).

Kosovo voters focus on graft, Serbia peace deal in election

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