Kosovo

Serbian Prime minister meets with Albanian counterpart Edi Rama

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has said that the differences between Serbia and Albania have to do with "the stance on Kosovo."

He made the comment after his meeting in Tirana with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Branimir Stojanovic, who serves as deputy Kosovo prime minister, has said that creating "the Armed Forces of Kosovo would be unacceptable to the Serb people"

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta has told the Pristina-based Klan Kosova television outlet that his country "could recognize Kosovo."

Ethnic Albanians in Serbia's southern province in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence, but Serbia rejected the proclamation as a violation of its territorial integrity and Constitution.

Talks on the formation of a community of Serb municipalities (ZSO) in Kosovo have begun in Brussels on the level of working groups.

This was announced on Tuesday by a spokesperson of the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

Russia's ambassador to the UN has told a Security Council session on to Kosovo that statements about the creation of a Greater Albania are a cause for concern.

Vitaly Churkin also communicated his country's concern "over the manner in which the West is talking Pristina into forming a court for the crimes committed by the KLA," RTS has quoted him as saying.

Serbian FM Ivica Dacic has stressed that the formation of a community of Serb municipalities (ZSO) is "a core issue for Belgrade" in the Kosovo talks.

Belgrade also "expects Pristina to adopt a decision on the setting up of a special court (for war crimes) as soon as possible."

The UN Security Council was told that Pristina must act quickly to set up a new special court to deal with alleged war crimes committed by senior Kosovo Liberation Army members.

Hashim Thaci's announcement about "a genocide lawsuit" is aimed primarily "at spoiling the visit of PM Aleksandar Vucic to Tirana," says Aleksandar Vulin.

Kosovo's Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci has announced that Pristina will soon bring "a genocide claim" against Serbia, "and request damages."

He said this during Tuesday's United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Kosovo and Metohija, and added that "appropriate documentation" was prepared for this."

Former members and supporters of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, on Tuesday buried the nine Kosovars killed in clashes with the Macedonian police in the town of Kumanovo two weeks ago.