Albin Kurti, MP of Self-Determination, talks to Deutsche Welle and says that Kosovo should have the right to vote on a referendum on unification with Albania, and why he rejects the Brussels dialogue and the Community of Serb municipalities.

Jadranka Joksimovic says that "inviting global powers" to join the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue represents "a reflection of provincialism."

"I'm sorry to hear that the Atlantic Council thinks the US and Serbia have had such bad relations until now, that a historic reconciliation needs to occur," the Serbian minister for EU Integration also said on Wednesday, adding:

First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic said in Washington that stabilization of the Western Balkans is crucial for the development of the region's economy.

Dacic spoke on Wednesday at a panel dedicated to business and investment in the Western Balkans during the conference of the Atlantic Council.

Academic and research institutions have no formal role in formulating the US policy towards Serbia or any other country.

This was announced by the US embassy in Belgrade, after the Atlantic Council published a report proposing a more active role of the United States in the Western Balkans.

The Atlantic Council will publish a report on the new US strategy for the Balkans.

According to Voice of America, it proposes establishing a permanent US military presence in Southeast Europe, advocates for "historic reconciliation" with Serbia and renewal of the reputation of the United States as a true mediator.

North Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakic says that media reports on the blockade of funds for northern Kosovo by the  responsible ministry in Pristina suggests that someone believes that by demonstrating force one can exert political pressure on Serbs, reports Kontakt plus radio.

- Of course it will not pass, and it is not a recipe for solving political problems, Rakic said.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks says that the reconciliation process in the Western Balkans has stalled.

In his latest Human Rights Comment, Muiznieks also noted that ethnic divisions and polarization have been growing in the region.

"These relate in particular to denial of genocide, glorification of war criminals and attempts to rehabilitate persons involved in crimes committed during the 1990s’ wars," the CoE cited him on its website, adding:

The Serbian Foreign Ministry (MFA) said on Tuesday it remained committed to overcoming disagreements and enhancing bilateral relations with Ukraine.

This comes despite the insistence by Ukraine's ambassador to Belgrade on the stance that Russia is using Serbia to create chaos and provoke a war in the Balkans, Tanjug reported, citing a press release issued by the MFA.

We are working very closely with the United States in the Western Balkans, Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for the European Union, told b92.net on Tuesday.

According to her, this also applies to "the question of (Belgrade-Pristina) dialogue on the normalization of relations."

Serbia does not want to unify with the Republika Srpska (RS), the Belgrade-based daily Danas says was told by President Aleksandar Vucic's cabinet.

Vucic's cabinet said this when asked about RS President Milorad Dodik's map, drawn during his interview for DW, which showed his vision of the map of the Western Balkans.

In it, the Serb entity in Bosnia-Herzegovina joins Serbia, together with the north of a partitioned Kosovo.