Latest Kosovo government News

Kosovo shuts 6 Serb bank branches over use of the dinar currency in a move that could raise tensions

May. 20, 2024 15:09 PM EDT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo police on Monday closed six branches of a Serbia-licensed bank in line with the decision on the ban of the use of the Serbian dinar currency in the country, a move that has raised tension with neighboring Serbia. A police statement said they closed...

Kosovo prepares a new draft law on renting prison cells to Denmark after the first proposal failed

May. 20, 2024 12:39 PM EDT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s Cabinet renewed efforts with a new draft law on renting a prison in the south of the country to Denmark to help it cope with its overpopulated prison system, an official said Monday. The first draft of the law failed to pass at the parliament last...

Kosovo criticizes Council of Europe for not holding a vote on its membership, blames Serbia lobbying

May. 17, 2024 11:39 AM EDT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo on Friday criticized the Council of Europe 's decision against holding a vote on its membership, saying it deprived its people and especially its ethnic minorities of democratic tools offered by the continent’s top human rights body. Kosovo’s...

Kosovo makes last-minute push to get its membership in Council of Europe approved in a Friday vote

May. 16, 2024 12:37 PM EDT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — The government of Kosovo is making a last-minute effort to convince Western powers to vote on whether to admit the country as a new member in the Council of Europe, the continent's top human rights body. Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz in a letter...

Kosovo prime minister deplores new condition ahead of Council of Europe's membership vote next week

May. 08, 2024 13:18 PM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Kosovo’s prime minister Wednesday deplored the fact that some Western powers reportedly have set another condition ahead of Kosovo's joining the Council of Europe. Kosovo media reported that France and Germany want Kosovo to take a significant step toward...

Kosovo backs Ukraine even though Kyiv has not recognized its independence, foreign minister says

May. 08, 2024 11:54 AM EDT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Kosovo's foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is convinced that Russia must lose the war in Ukraine for conflict not to spread further in Europe. She said her young nation's support for Ukraine is unconditional even though Kyiv has not recognized Kosovo's...

Residents of four Serb-majority municipalities boycott vote on removing ethnic Albanian mayors

Apr. 21, 2024 15:56 PM EDT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Residents of four Serb-majority municipalities on Sunday overwhelmingly boycotted a vote on removing their ethnic Albanian mayors from office following last year’s mayoral elections. The referendum — supported by the West — was an attempt to diffuse...

Kosovo will conduct a nationwide census that includes surveying the ethnic Serb minority

Apr. 05, 2024 08:48 AM EDT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo's government began Friday its first nationwide census since 2011, which will include surveying the ethnic Serb minority in the north, at a time when tensions with neighboring Serbia are high. The Agency of Statistics is conducting the 12-million euro...

US official says Kosovo's ban on dinar use may spark a 'humanitarian issue' for ethnic Serbs

Mar. 14, 2024 14:06 PM EDT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — A senior U.S. official on Thursday said he was “very concerned” that Kosovo’s decision to ban the use of Serbian dinar in the north could cause “an emerging humanitarian issue” for the ethnic Serb minority. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State...

A US envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to make tough decisions to restart talks on normalizing ties

Mar. 13, 2024 10:47 AM EDT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — A senior U.S. official on Wednesday urged Kosovo and Serbia to make tough decisions to restart talks and “move forward” on normalizing ties. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar met with officials in Kosovo in the latest American effort to...