Kosovo's Constitutional Court has decided to suspend an EU-backed agreement on the rights of the Serbian minority. Serbia's foreign minister accused Pristina of 'mocking' the EU and other international partners.

http://www.dw.com/en/kosovo-freezes-key-eu-deal-on-autonomy-for-serb-communities/a-18842213

Kosovo is the last southeastern European country to sign the EU Association Agreement. But the country still has a long road to EU membership. "To us, this is a historic moment, a historic step. Kosovo has begun an irreversible journey towards EU membership," asserted Kosovo's minister for EU integration, Bekim Collaku, in an interview with Deutsche Welle.

http://www.dw.com/en/kosovo-on-the-threshold-of-eu-membership/a-18807205

Kosovo could become the next UNESCO member. The UN cultural body has indicated its support, despite hostility from Serbia. The tiny Balkan country is home to four World Heritage sites.

http://www.dw.com/en/unesco-recommends-kosovo-membership-despite-serbian-disapproval/a-18798913

In an interview for Deutsche Welle, Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and one of Serbian List leaders, Branimir Stojanovic, said an important step in the formation of the Association/Community of Serb majority municipalities is the approval of its statute. This, according to Stojanovic, will have to be agreed at a high political level. “The Association/Community and its competencies will not undermine Albanians and their lives,” said Stojanovic. He added that once the Association/Community is up and running, Kosovo Serbs will become more self-assured and cooperate more with the others.

Serbia and Kosovo have inched towards better ties after signing agreements in several key areas following EU-mediated talks. Both have EU ambitions that hinge on improved relations.

http://www.dw.com/en/serbia-kosovo-sign-landmark-energy-telco-agreements/a-18672310

In an interview for Deutsche Welle in Albanian Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa said that his official visit to Germany was very important because Germany is a powerful country that has invested a great deal in Kosovo. “Germany is a country that has supported us a lot in the process of dialogue with Serbia by setting certain principles and asking for implementation of agreements reached in Brussels”.

In an interview for Deutsche Welle in Albanian, Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci said he was hopeful that the last round of talks in Brussels was characterized by a dynamic debate on a number of issues important for normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. “We discussed and made progress with regards to the establishment of the association of Serb-majority municipalities and full integration of Serbs in Kosovo institutions.

Serbian Prime Minister Vucic has started his landmark visit to Albania, aiming to melt the decades-long chill between the two Balkan countries. Kosovo, mostly populated by Albanians, remains at the heart of the dispute.

On a first-ever visit by a Serbian head of government to Tirana, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he wished to "extend the hand of friendship to the Albanian people."

In an interview for Deutsche Welle in Albanian, European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said he is convinced that regional cooperation helps in bringing the people together. He said the fact that the latest Western Balkans Summit took place in Kosovo on Serbia’s proposal shows the potential behind this multilateral cooperation.

More than 18,000 people from Kosovo have arrived in Germany since the start of the year in search of a better life. DW's Bahri Cani met one family at a home for asylum seekers in the town of Hemer.

Two-year-old Aurora has a bad cough and a runny nose. Her mother, Zoja, pregnant with her second child, tries to comfort her. Both have tears in their eyes. Father and husband Valdet Brahimi buries his face in his hands and sighs deeply. "They lied to us. If I had known that, I never would have done this," he says.