By: Shqipe Gjocaj

As the saying goes, when someone comes out, the whole family transitions. The support and love, followed by opposition and hate, are all part of this struggle.

On Tuesday, Kosovo organized its first pride parade. As expected, once it was announced in the media, panic ensued.

Among the first to express contempt was Gezim Kelmendi, head of his religious political party Fjala and former MP. He wrote a homophobic status against the parade, only to have it removed due to its violation of Facebook’s community standards.

The first ever Pride Parade in Kosovo, due to take place on Tuesday, is drawing fierce opposition and derogatory language from some Muslim clerics and from parties close to them.

Some hard-line Muslim clerics in Kosovo have condemned the announced first Pride Parade in Kosovo, which is set to take place on 10 October in Pristina.

Belgrade based daily Danas writes today, based on unofficial diplomatic sources, that the United States and Germany are considering who will be their envoys in the next phase of the Brussels dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and that it is expected that the decision on their names would be made and disclosed in a month time.

Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has called on the EU "to bring the Balkans into its orbit."

In an interview for Germany's Handelsblatt, quoted by Tanjug, Kurz "warned of the growing influence of Turkey and Saudi Arabia."

"In Sarajevo and Pristina, for example, women are paid to wear the full veil in public. We cannot look on and do nothing," the Austrian minister said.

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia's foreign minister and a top ally of President Aleksandar Vucic has suggested a compromise to end a conflict over Kosovo, the newest independent European state that is blocking Serbia's hopes of European Union membership.

Serbia, where many regard Kosovo as the cradle of their nation and Orthodox Christian faith, refuses to recognize the independence of its former Southern province and has been blocking its membership in organizations including Interpol and UNESCO.

Serbian media reported about the meeting between the Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic and the Ambassador of the Republic of India, Narinder Chauhan, focused on further development of the economic co-operation and support of India regarding the Kosovo issue.

During the meeting, Indian Ambassador highlighted that India opposes membership of Pristina in international organizations.

In the next few days I expect consultations with the Albanian political leaders, and after that we will make a decision whether or not to participate in the government of interim institutions in Kosovo, new Char of Srpska Lista and mayor of Mitrovica/Mitrovice North, Goran Rakic stated to Novosti daily.

After years of delay, the assembly of the capital of Kosovo looks set to give the go-ahead to the construction of a new 'Central Mosque' - despite the objections of civil society groups.

A key item on the agenda of the city council in Pristina, Kosovo, on July 25 is the future of the city's long-planned central mosque, Miranda Mullafazliu, the spokesperson for the municipality, told BIRN.

The Islamic Community of Kosovo, BIK, together with former senior state officials, placed the cornerstone of the Central Mosque back in 2012 in the city's Dardania district.

Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic stated to Tanjug that in addition to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, internal dialogue about Kosovo is also important.

“Regardless the talks hold in Brussels, it is important to have a dialogue within our society, a dialogue between different social and scientific actors,” Dacic said.

It should offer a platform to exchange opinions about what would be the best solution for Kosovo.

A new café in Pristina where most of the staff have Down’s syndrome has become a hit with locals - while generating much-needed cash for an NGO that aids people with this condition.

Kosovo has any number of bars these days - but Bar X21, which opened four months ago, is slightly different from the crowd.

Most of the staff here have Down’s syndrome - and it has swiftly become popular with locals who enjoy the cheery welcome they receive when they come through the door.