The paper carries the below article, initially published  in The Wall Street Journal.

Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci hit back at criticism of his country’s record in containing Islamic extremism, saying his nation – Europe’s youngest – is fighting hard against radical “elements.”

Over the last five years, around 300 Kosovars, out of a majority-Muslim population of 1.8 million, have joined Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, according to the government.

Kosovo authorities have accomplished their job with regard to creation and the start of work of the Special War Crimes Court. It is now up to Brussels to accomplish their part of the job, that is, that Netherlands authorities adopt the law on Special Court with the seat in Hague.

Slovenia’s President, Borut Pahor, said yesterday in Ljubljana that Kosovo should be recognized by all countries, especially neighbouring ones. “We support Kosovo’s need to be  recognized by all countries, especially neighbouring ones, and to be included in all international organisations,” Pahor said at the opening of economic forum during Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi’s visit to Ljubljana.

Opinion piece by Kosovo President, Hashim Thaçi

I have sent my congratulations to President-elect Alexander Van Der Bellen and I look forward to working with him on the issues that unite our region with Vienna – the old capital of the Habsburg Empire – that has played a crucial role in our history, culture – even our architecture.

If Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi would come to Belgrade he would be arrested, because court in Belgrade had requested the issuance of the arrest warrant against him, said Serbian acting War Crimes Prosecutor Milan Petrović to Vecernje Novosti.

Even though the warrant was forwarded to Interpol by our Ministry of Justice, this organization, explained Petrović, in line with the resolution of its general assembly may suspend the arrest warrant in certain circumstances.

Kosovo President, Hashim Thaci, is attending the summit of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Sofia, Bulgaria. Thaci said the meeting is very important to discuss the next steps of the region in the context of regional integration and also integration in the EU and NATO. “We are meeting at a very important time for the region. Now is the time to make additional constructive steps for our integration. Meetings, conversations and dialogue between all countries in the region are now a normality.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, will receive an award in Pristina for his role in promoting inter-religious dialogue. Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci confirmed the news. Thaci posted on his Facebook page that Khan and the Community of Sant'Egidio from the Hole See will receive awards for inter-religious dialogue at the end of the “Interfaith Kosovo” conference in Pristina, which will host guests from 50 countries.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Security Minister Dragan Mektić said that the country’s authorities received information that Interpol has revoked arrest warrant against Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, issued on request of Serbia. The announcement came after Thaçi’s travel to Bosnia to attend the Brdo-Brijuni leaders summit.

Kosovo’s President, Hashim Thaçi, this weekend will attend the Brdo-Brioni Leaders Process which will be held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.Along the members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Brdo-Brioni Process initiators, presidents of Croatia and Slovenia, also leaders of Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo will attend the meeting. President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella is the guest of honour of this year’s Brdo-Brijuni Process Meeting.

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, hailed the Kosovo Assembly pro-vote to the draft law on preventing funding of terrorism. He said the law is aimed at preventing the citizens of Kosovo from joining wars in foreign territory. “The fact that not a single case of people from Kosovo joining foreign wars has been recorded in the last six months is one of the first successes of our joint efforts”, wrote Thaçi on his social media account. He stressed that Kosovo remains at the forefront of the battle against extremism and terrorism.