US reassures Kosovo it won’t support Serb-majority ministate
January 31, 2023 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The United States on Tuesday reassured Kosovars that it wouldn't support the creation of a Serb-majority ministate in Kosovo — like one in Bosnia — as Washington attempts to convince the country to accept a controversial association.
U.S. presses Kosovo on municipal body in Serb-majority areas
January 30, 2023 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — United States officials on Monday pressed Kosovo to allow an association of ethnic Serb-majority municipalities as a “critical element” in its road as an independent country.
EU official: Kosovo, Serbia reach a deal on vehicle plates
November 23, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The European Union’s top diplomat on Wednesday said Kosovo and Serbia have reached a deal on a dispute over vehicle number plates, defusing rising tensions between the two Western Balkan neighbors.
Kosovo accuses Serbia of trying to destabilize country
November 7, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo on Monday accused neighboring Serbia of trying to destabilize the country by pressuring members of the ethnic Serb community to resign from their posts for not accepting Pristina’s decision to change illegal vehicle license plates.
Kosovo’s ethnic Serb police, lawmakers resign en masse
November 5, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Representatives of the ethnic Serb minority in Kosovo on Saturday resigned from their posts in protest over the dismissal of a police officer who did not follow the government's decision on vehicle license plates.
Tension brews anew between Kosovo, Serbia over car plates
November 1, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Serbia said Tuesday it has placed its troops on the border with Kosovo on a heightened state of alert over a row about car license plates that has threatened to further escalate tensions between the two Balkan foes.
Kosovo expands timeline for Serbs to comply with car plates
October 28, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s authorities have apparently bowed to international pressure and softened their decision to ban illegal vehicle license plates, a move that could avoid riots by minority Serbs over the issue.
Serb arrested in Hungary for alleged war crimes in Kosovo
October 18, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The Kosovar prosecutors’ office on Tuesday said an ethnic Serb accused of killing ethnic Albanians in 1999 was arrested in Hungary.
Serbia, Kosovo leaders set for EU-backed talks on Aug. 18
August 5, 2022 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo have agreed to meet in Brussels this month to discuss ways to end the stalemate in European Union-brokered talks aimed at improving relations between them as ethnic tensions simmer, a European Commission spokesman said Friday.
NATO official: Western Balkans face ‘no imminent threat’
July 7, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — A NATO senior official on Thursday said Western Balkan countries don't face an “imminent threat” from the war in Ukraine, and are of strategic interest to the Western alliance.
Kosovars fume at new delay in accessing EU visa-free travel
June 28, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The European Union's delay in allowing visa-free travel for the people of Kosovo has spread dismay and resentment in the continent's newest state, and one Pristina businessman has retaliated by hitting EU officials where it hurts — the stomach.
Kosovo arrests man accused of war crimes in 1999 fighting
June 27, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo prosecutors on Monday charged a man with war crimes for allegedly being part of a group of Serbian forces that executed at least nine ethnic Albanian civilians during the country's 1998-1999 war.
Festival founded by Dua Lipa’s father returns to Kosovo
June 20, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s central government and authorities in the capital joined forces on Monday to bring back home an international music festival founded by the father of singer-songwriter Dua Lipa which had been moved following a dispute with its organizers.
Bomb threats made in Kosovo’s ethnic Serb-dominated areas
June 16, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Police in Kosovo reported a series of bomb threats to schools in Serb-dominated areas Thursday, which have been confirmed as hoaxes.
A police statement said about 30 locations received early morning electronic warnings or phone calls.
Festival founded by Dua Lipa’s father decamps from Kosovo
June 15, 2022 GMTTIRANA, Albania (AP) — An international music festival founded by the father of singer-songwriter Dua Lipa to promote his native Kosovo has led to recriminations for the small European country after it lost the event to neighboring Albania.
Scholz: Serbia, Kosovo must recognize each other to join EU
June 10, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Serbia and Kosovo must recognize each other in order to join the European Union, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Friday said as he expressed support for quicker integration of the Western Balkans into the bloc amid the war in Ukraine.
Kosovo war veterans clash with police, want higher pensions
June 6, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Hundreds of Kosovo war veterans clashed with police Monday at a protest to demand higher pensions, leaving at least three people injured, police said.
Police kept members of the War Veterans' Organization of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) away from the parliament in Pristina, where lawmakers were discussing proposal to raise the minimum salary from 170 euros ($182) to 250 euros ($268) per month.
2 Kosovar men held in detention on terror suspicions
May 30, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — A Kosovo court decided Monday to continue detaining two Albanian men who allegedly joined extremist groups in Syria.
The Pristina court decided in separate cases in favor of prosecutors' requests to leave the suspects in detention for a month.
Kosovo minister calls attacks on police ‘terrorist acts’
April 15, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo authorities on Friday condemned a recent string of armed attacks against police in which automatic rifles and hand grenades were used as acts of terrorism.
Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said the latest attack occurred early Friday when a police patrol came under fire from an AK-47 assault rifle and a hand grenade near Zubin Potok, 55 kilometers (35 miles) north of the capital Pristina.
Kosovo commemorates 98 slain in Rezalle massacre in 1999
April 5, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo leaders on Tuesday urged Serbia to accept the 1999 genocide that its former regime committed in Serbia's former province of Kosovo.
Kosovo commemorated the 23rd anniversary of the massacre at Rezalle, a village 50 kilometers (35 miles) west of the capital, Pristina, where Serb army, police and paramilitary forces killed 98 ethnic Albanians.
Kosovo Albanian indicted for 1999 war crimes
March 29, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Prosecutors on Tuesday indicted an Albanian man for war crimes over his alleged participation in the killings of 130 people in Kosovo 23 years ago.
The special prosecutor’s office accused the resident of Belgrade, Serbia - identified only by the initials M.A.
Kosovo Serbs protest to get votes in Serbia’s April election
March 25, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Hundreds of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo protested Friday to pressure the government into allowing them to vote in neighboring Serbia’s April 3 general election.
Demonstrators gathered in Mitrovica, 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of Pristina, with banners reading “We want our human rights” and “Kurti won’t drive us away from Kosovo,” and marched to a bridge that divides the city.
Albania sends 1st troops to NATO-led mission in Kosovo
February 25, 2022 GMTTIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania said on Friday it is sending a military contingent as part of the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in neighboring Kosovo.
A Defense Ministry statement said that a contingent of 30 commandos of Albania’s armed forces would join Italian and Croatian KFOR troops in the city of Peja, 85 kilometers (53 miles) west of the capital, Pristina.
EU, US want faster progress in Serbia-Kosovo talks
February 2, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Envoys from the European Union and the United States on Wednesday urged Kosovo and Serbia to make concrete progress in EU-brokered negotiations aimed at resolving a long-running dispute that remains a source of tensions in the volatile Balkans.
Soldier from North Macedonia dies as peacekeeper in Kosovo
January 8, 2022 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo said Saturday that a participating soldier from North Macedonia has died.
The Kosovo Force mission said the male service member died in Pristina, Kosovo's capital, on Friday in circumstances unrelated to combat.
Kosovo, Denmark ironing out prison rent agreement
December 17, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo is hopeful that a deal with Denmark to rent 300 prison cells to help the Scandinavian country cope with its overpopulated prison system would help upgrade its correctional service and also cope with the energy crisis.
Gunman opens fire on bus in Kosovo, killing 3, wounding 1
November 26, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — An unidentified gunman opened fire on a bus carrying teenagers in western Kosovo Friday, killing three people and injuring another, police and media reports said.
Fadil Gashi, police spokesman in the nearby city of Peja, said the bus came under attack in Gllogjan, 90 kilometers (55 miles) west of the capital Pristina at about 1800 GMT.
Kosovars get COVID vaccine after Friday prayer at mosques
November 19, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s health authorities are trying a new technique to persuade people to get the COVID-19 vaccine — cooperating with the Muslim community at Friday prayers.
Imams around Kosovo called on the faithful to get the jab while medical teams waited in the mosques’ yards to inoculate them.
Kosovo governing party loses capital in runoff mayoral vote
November 14, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo's governing party suffered a heavy blow Sunday by losing the capital's mayoral post in runoff municipal elections held in almost two-thirds of the country after center-right opposition parties dominated in the first round.
Kosovo’s president orders 2 Russian diplomats expelled
October 22, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo has ordered the expulsion of two Russian diplomats for allegedly "endangering national security,” the Balkan country's president said Friday, accusing Russia of trying to destabilize the region.
Kosovo opposition wins, but most communes in runoffs
October 18, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Preliminary results on Monday show that the center-right opposition parties have dominated in Kosovo’s municipal elections but more than half of communes will go to runoffs in a month's time.
Center-right parties lead in Kosovo’s municipal vote
October 17, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Center-right opposition parties in Kosovo were leading in Sunday's municipal election but runoffs will still be needed to decide half of the winners, according to early results.
Kosovo police clash with ethnic Serbs during smuggling raids
October 13, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia resumed Wednesday after Kosovo police clashed with ethnic Serbs during an anti-smuggling operation. At least 11 people were injured.
The episode prompted an angry response from Serbia which demanded from the international community, including the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, to restore order and prevent “wider chaos.”
Serb jailed for crimes in 1998-1999 war in Kosovo
October 5, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — An ethnic Serb was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Kosovo on Tuesday after being convicted of war crimes, including involvement in a massacre during the 1998-1999 war.
The court in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, handed down the ruling against the man, who was arrested in 2019 and was identified only by his initials G.S.
NATO troops patrol Kosovo-Serbia border after truck blockade
October 2, 2021 GMTJARINJE, Kosovo (AP) — Soldiers with a NATO-led peacekeeping mission are keeping watch at the Kosovo-Serbia border after the two countries reached a deal to deescalate tensions triggered by a dispute over vehicle license plates.
Kosovo, Serbia reach deal to deescalate border tensions
September 30, 2021 GMTBELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia and Kosovo have reached an agreement to deescalate tensions on their mutual border that have been triggered by a dispute over vehicle license plates, a European Union mediator announced Thursday.
EU urges Kosovo, Serbia talk on disputes, lower tensions
September 29, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The head of the European Union's executive branch on Wednesday called on Kosovo and Serbia to resolve their disputes through the dialogue and deescalate the recent tension over license plates.
Kosovo-Serbia border blocked by protesters amid tensions
September 21, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The Kosovo-Serbia border was blocked again Tuesday by ethnic Kosovo Serbs protesting a decision by Kosovo authorities to start removing Serbian license plates from cars entering the country.
Spain wins 2-0 away in WC qualifier as Kosovo fans protest
September 8, 2021 GMTSpain won 2-0 at Kosovo on Wednesday to regain control of its fate in World Cup qualifying in a match marked by protests by the home fans over Spain's non-recognition of the country.
Pablo Fornals and Ferran Torres scored to give Spain 13 points, four more than Sweden, which lost 2-1 at Greece.
Kosovar activists disrupt war crimes court officials’ talks
September 7, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovar activists on Tuesday tried to disrupt a meeting of war crimes court officials with civil society members, accusing the court adjudicating cases from Kosovo’s war of independence of equating the victim with the aggressor.
Western Balkan nations postpone school openings due to virus
August 31, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo on Tuesday postponed the beginning of the school year for students up through high school by two weeks following a surge of coronavirus infections due to the delta variant, and new precautions were taken in other Western Balkan countries like Albania and Serbia.
Kosovo awards rule of law medal to Biden’s late son Beau
August 1, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo on Sunday awarded a presidential medal on the rule of law to U.S. President Joe Biden’s late son Beau.
In a ceremony held in front of the presidential office, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani handed over the medal to the U.S.
Kosovar survivors of Croatia bus crash return to homeland
July 27, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Some of the survivors of a deadly bus crash in Croatia flew home to Kosovo on Tuesday to a welcoming crowd at the country's international airport at the capital, Pristina.
A plane flew in from Osijek, Croatia, bringing 21 ethnic Albanian Kosovars to Adem Jashari airport two days after the bus crash that killed 10 people and injured 43.
Minister: US helped repatriation of 11 Kosovars from Syria
July 19, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s interior minister said Monday that the repatriation of 11 of the European nation's citizens from Syria was made “in close cooperation” with the United States.
Six men, one woman and four children arrived in Kosovo on Saturday from conflict zones in Syria.
Kosovo repatriates 11 of its citizens from Syria
July 18, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s interior minister said Sunday that 11 Kosovar citizens have been repatriated from Syria.
Minister Xhelal Svecla tweeted that the 11 arrived Saturday from conflict zones in Syria, without giving details on where they were taken from or how many men, women or children were in the group.
Kosovo adopts resolution to condemn 1995 Srebrenica massacre
July 7, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s parliament on Wednesday adopted a resolution condemning the 1995 massacre of thousands of Bosnian men and boys in Srebrenica by Bosnian Serb troops, which was branded as genocide by a U.N.
Kosovo: Serb ex-police officer jailed for rape during war
July 5, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — A Kosovar court on Monday sentenced to 10 years in prison a Serbian ex-policeman accused of raping an ethnic Albanian woman during the 1998-1999 war. The sentencing was believed to be the first for a rape conviction dating back to the Kosovo war.
Stoltenberg: Kosovo force important for the region and NATO
July 1, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Kosovo on Thursday and reassured local leaders that the international Kosovo Force will remain in place to secure regional peace and stability.
Serbian president says EU-brokered Kosovo talks to resume
June 4, 2021 GMTBELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s president on Friday said that European Union-mediated negotiations on normalizing relations with Kosovo, which stalled last year, will resume within days.
Aleksandar Vucic did not specify the date but said “dialogue will continue within a very short period of time.
Top US, EU envoys visit Kosovo to promote talks with Serbia
May 31, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Top officials from the United States and the European Union on Monday visited Kosovo to urge the tiny Western Balkan country to resume talks on the normalization of ties with its former war foe Serbia.
Kosovo police seize record cocaine shipment, arrest 7
May 18, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo police seized a record 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of cocaine that originated in Brazil, and arrested seven people suspected of drug trafficking offenses, authorities said Tuesday.
Pandemic leaves Kosovo without printed daily newspapers
May 3, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Ibrahim Gashi sold daily newspapers in downtown Pristina for 35 years, until they didn't come anymore...
Kosovar biologist calls newly found insect after coronavirus
April 20, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovar biologist Halil Ibrahimi believes the pandemic restrictions haven't all been bad — as a result of them, he completed his research, raised public awareness of the pollution of river basins and named a newly discovered insect after the virus...
Serb accused of 1999 massacre of 130 men arrested in Kosovo
March 31, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s police on Wednesday arrested a Serb who is accused of war crimes during the 1998-1999 war...
Kosovo court convicts 1 Serb, 1 Albanian of 1999 war crimes
March 23, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — A Kosovo court on Tuesday jailed a Serb former police officer and an Albanian policeman convicted of murder and other war crimes during the 1998-1999 war in the former Serbian province...
One Good Thing: In Kosovo, virus lets humanity shine through
March 11, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Helping her elderly father beat back his coronavirus infection on her own taught Arta Jashari how the power of one can offer hope to others and change things for the better...
Kosovo sends troops on peacekeeping mission for first time
March 9, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo on Tuesday sent a military platoon to Kuwait to take part in the country's first ever international peacekeeping mission.
A ceremony was held at the army barracks in the capital, Pristina, in the presence of top leaders and western military attaches.
Kosovo ties with Israel face strong resistance from Turkey
March 1, 2021 GMTPRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s prime minister-designate has found himself in a difficult diplomatic position ahead of taking the post following his country’s diplomatic ties with Israel...