Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, but is still unrecognised by Belgrade, has warned against the candidacy of Vuk Jeremić, a former Serbian foreign minister, for UN Secretary General.

Protestors in Kosovo’s capital Pristina on Saturday (27 August) called Jeremić “the biggest anti-Albanian politician” and said that their country’s candidacy for UN membership would be blocked for 10 years should the Serbian politician get the job.

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.

Kosovo Serbs voiced concerns on Thursday (5 May) about an EU proposal to allow visa-free travel for citizens of Kosovo, fearing it would force the Serb minority to recognize the territory’s disputed independence.

http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/kosovo-serbs-worried-about-eu-proposal-for-visa-free-travel/

Scenes of violence at Kosovo’s parliament, in which opposition MPs released tear gas to prevent the election of a new president, were “extremely worrying”, the European Union said on 27 February.

http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/kosovo-presidential-vote-violence-extremely-worrying-says-eu/

Eight years after ethnic Albanians joyously declared Kosovo’s independence from Serbia, chaotic scenes of MPs releasing tear gas in their parliament hardly gives the impression of a successfully functioning state.

www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/tear-gas-clouds-kosovos-independence-anniversary/

Kosovo is appealing to Brussels to grant its citizens visa-free travel to the EU. But at a time of crises in migration, terrorism and people-smuggling, some are sceptical. A decision on the waiver is expected in the coming days.

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/kosovar-minister-defends-bid-visa-free-eu-travel-320518

By Andrea Lorenzo Capussela

In an interview for EurActiv, Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci accused Serbia of leading a war-mongering and anti-European campaign against Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO. He said the whole world was appalled at the behaviour of Serbia. “It was against the spirit of the dialogue and cooperation that we are promoting in Brussels through the dialogue process; it was against the spirit of normalisation of relations and building peace and stability,” said Thaci.