The largest of the states to emerge from the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Orthodox Christian and Slavic Serbia has natural affinity with Moscow, but it is keen to join the European Union.

This month, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Hoyt Brian Yee told Belgrade it “cannot sit on two chairs at the same time”. His remarks sparked sharp criticism in the Serbian capital.

The United Pensioners' Party (PUPS) has proposed that Spain be included, within the team of EU mediators, in the Brussels dialogue of Belgrade and Pristina, Serbian media reported.

In a statement reported by Beta today, the party, which participates in Serbia's government coalition, suggested proposing to the state leadership to extend "the same diplomatic and friendly invitation" to other EU members that do not recognize Kosovo as independent - i.e., Slovakia, Romania, Cyprus, and Greece.

The European Union made an announcement related to the engagement of a war crime convict, General Vladimir Lazarevic at the Serbian Military Academy, saying that Serbia should respect European standards, Serbian media reported.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has said that EU officials should not "abuse" the pro-European orientation of citizens of Kosovo.

Beta reported him as saying that this pro-European orientation has been abused by individuals in the EU in order to humiliate Kosovo or delay its European perspective.

"Kosovo needs to move quickly towards a concrete European perspective, not a process that can last five, ten or 20 years," Thaci has told the Klan Kosova broadcaster.

WASHINGTON – As Hoyt Brian Yee, the deputy assistant secretary of State stated yesterday that Serbia “cannot sit on two chairs at the same time,” referring to Serbia’s relations with Russia and the EU, the statement provoked many reaction.

Daniel Serwer, the director of the Conflict Management Program at the Johns Hopkins School of International Studies in Washington DC and former diplomat stated in his Op-ed that he agrees with the Yee’s claim, although he is more interested in the other question.

The European Union has welcomed decree of Serb judges and prosecutors. A statement issued on the EU’s official website by its Spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, reads that today's integration of judges, prosecutors and administrative staff into the Kosovo judiciary marks the implementation of the justice agreement reached in February 2015 under the EU-facilitated Dialogue.

Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, met today in Brussels with the EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn, to discuss the integrating agenda of Kosovo.

Minister Hoxha stressed progress made in many fields, starting from the rule of law, economic development and good neighborly relations.

Hoxha requested from Hahn support, especially on economic development respectively help for new entrepreneurs that would impact increase of working places.

The EU confirmed that on Tuesday the Kosovo-Serbia agreement on unifying the justice system in Kosovo is due to come into force.

Maja Kocijancic, the spokesperson for EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, told BIRN on Monday that a landmark agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, unifying the justice system in Kosovo, will come into force on Tuesday.

Former USA Ambassador to Serbia, Cameron Munter, who is now heading the The East-West Institute, said he is an optimist, seeing the people in the region having the spirit and willingness to resolve the issues, shared by all, Tanjug news agency reported.

In that sense, he particularly mentioned Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic.

Munter believes that the crucial solution must come from the people and leadership in the region.

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic said to Tanjug that the statements of Kosovo leaders “are intended for internal use” and this is how he sees the latest statement of Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj.

Haradinaj earlier stated there is no continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue without involvement of the USA.

“I would not comment on every Pristina’s statement, intended for internal use,” Dacic said referring to Haradinaj’s statement.