Latest Kosovo News

Kosovo complains of biased western envoys in talks with its former foe Serbia

Jun. 08, 2023 14:01 PM EDT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s prime minister on Thursday complained of bias against his country from the United States and the European Union and tolerance of what he called Serbia’s authoritarian regime. Prime Minister Albin Kurti said his Cabinet took a different stance....

US Balkan envoy urges Kosovo and Serbia to deescalate tensions or jeopardize progress toward EU

Jun. 07, 2023 08:20 AM EDT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — A U.S. envoy for the Balkans urged Kosovo and Serbia on Wednesday to deescalate simmering ethnic tensions in the former Serbian province, or both states could jeopardize their proclaimed goal of one day joining the European Union. Gabriel Escobar and EU...

Turkish forces arrive in Kosovo to bolster NATO-led peacekeepers after recent violence

Jun. 05, 2023 10:35 AM EDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish commando battalion requested by NATO has arrived in Kosovo to assist in quelling recent violent unrest in the Balkan country. The Turkish Defense Ministry shared a video Sunday showing troops wearing the insignia of the Kosovo Force, a NATO-led...

Turkey to send commando unit to help quell unrest in Kosovo

Jun. 03, 2023 08:40 AM EDT

ANKARA (AP) — The Turkish defense ministry announced Saturday it will be sending a commando battalion to northern Kosovo in response to a NATO request for troops to help quell violent unrest. The request came from NATO’s Joint Force Command Naples, the ministry said in a press...

US lawyer named chief prosecutor at office linked to Kosovo war crimes court

Jun. 02, 2023 04:39 AM EDT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — American lawyer Kimberly West has been appointed as the chief prosecutor linked to a European Union-backed court prosecuting war crimes in Kosovo, the prosecutor's office announced Friday. West replaces Jack Smith, who stood down as head of the...

France, Germany urge new elections in Kosovo following flare-up in ethnic tensions

Jun. 01, 2023 15:38 PM EDT

BULBOACA, Moldova (AP) — The leaders of France and Germany have urged their counterparts in Kosovo and Serbia to agree on holding new municipal elections in northern Kosovo, hoping that another ballot would quell a flare-up of ethnic tensions that have led to violent protests in the region. ...

Djokovic struggles for set at French Open after government official critiques Kosovo comments

May. 31, 2023 17:33 PM EDT

PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic refrained from any political messages at the French Open following a second-round victory that was a struggle for a set Wednesday night — hours after a government minister criticized the 22-time Grand Slam champion's comments about clashes in Kosovo as “not...

Efforts to defuse Kosovo crisis intensify amid more protests

May. 31, 2023 12:42 PM EDT

ZVECAN, Kosovo (AP) — International efforts to defuse a crisis in Kosovo intensified Wednesday as ethnic Serbs held more protests in a northern town where recent clashes with NATO-led peacekeepers sparked fears of renewed conflict in the troubled region. Hundreds of Serbs repeated...

Why do Kosovo-Serbia tensions persist?

May. 31, 2023 04:28 AM EDT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo flared anew this week after Kosovo’s police raided Serb-dominated areas in the region’s north and seized local municipality buildings. There have been violent clashes between Kosovo’s police and NATO-led peacekeepers...

Germany arrests 7 alleged members of network that helped finance Islamic State

May. 31, 2023 04:05 AM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — Seven people were arrested in raids across Germany on Wednesday against alleged members of a network that helped finance the Islamic State extremist group's activities in Syria, prosecutors said. The suspects — four women and three men, with German, Turkish,...