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Message to Kurtz: Stop "inflaming" Balkan region (Tanjug, B92)

Leader of Austrian People's Party (OVP) Sebastian Kurtz should stop "inflaming" Balkans, Steffi Krisper and Douglas Hoyos from Austrian party NEOS underlined

He reacted to the interview that former Austrian Chancellor had given to Tanjug News Agency.

Kurz to Tanjug: Austria will support the correction of borders (Serbian media)

Austria will support all the solutions agreed in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, including border correction, Sebastian Kurz told Belgrade based news agency Tanjug.

"Our position is clear: we support everything that the parties agree on, as well as possible border adjustments, if that ultimately leads to a comprehensive solution that would bring more stability. The goal must be to resolve all outstanding issues by agreement in the dialogue," Kurz explained.

The Balkans Impact Austria Directly (CorD)

Any solution (for Kosovo) needs to have support of the mayor powers, particularly the permanent members of the Security Council. We have an interest in being in close partnership with the United States regarding the Western Balkans and to have their support in encouraging in this important process – Sebastian Kurz.

See the interview at: https://bit.ly/2G1CDCB

Kurz for progress in dialogue, revoking of Pristina’s taxes (Tanjug, RTS)

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told Tanjug news agency that he expects further progress in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, which is a precondition for the EU accession process, adding Vienna supports revoking of the taxes introduced by Pristina authorities.

Asked if he expects Belgrade and Pristina would be able to find out a solution by the end of the current EU Commission’s mandate, Kurz underlined that further progress in the dialogue is a crucial precondition for advancement towards the EU.

Vucic: Kurz kept his word (Tanjug, B92)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that Austria kept its word and sent important messages over the last six months while chairing the EU, Tanjug news agency reported.

“I have to say I am delighted with an energy Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz invested over the last six months in resolving the Balkans issues. Austria understands very well the problems in the Balkans,” President Vucic said.

He added that Austria and Chancellor Kurz in particular, invested great efforts, energy and work to resolve the issues in a peaceful manner.

Dialogue continues because of Kurz, Vucic "brings criticism" (Prva TV, B92)

Thursday's meeting between Vucic and Thaci in Brussels is unlikely to bring anything new, but Vucic will criticize the EU, a diplomat Zoran Milivojevic said.

Milivojevic told Prva TV's news program that today's meeting is "not surprising, although it may seem so."

He recalled that the dialogue "almost died in the summer" when a lot of criticism was leveled at the EU, the mediator in the dialogue, regarding the organization's "inability to solve the problem."

Austrian chancellor visits Belgrade, met with Vucic, Brnabic (BETA, Tanjug, B92)

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke on Monday in Belgrade with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the Serbian government announced on its website.

They discussed "bilateral and economic cooperation between the two countries, the European integration of integration of Serbia and the current situation in the region."

Brnabic "expressed her gratitude to Austria for the support it provides to Serbia in the process of European integration and the opening of new chapters and expressed the belief that this support will continue in the future."

Kurtz encourages Vucic and Thaci to make further progress in dialogue (RTS)

Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurtz said he does not want to comment on proposals related to borders correction or delineation in Kosovo until there are concrete plans offered for something like that, RTS reported.

Kurtz’s cabinet confirmed the Austrian Chancellor spoke with presidents Aleksandar Vucic and Hashim Thaci. He encouraged both officials to make further progress in a dialogue, highlighting “it is a crucial precondition” for the region to get closer to the EU.

"Balkan is priority, EU must stop negotiations with Turkey" (BETA, EKATHIMERINI, B92)

The EU-Turkey accession negotiations should stop immediately, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has told Greek daily Kathimerini.

Previously, Kurz, whose country took over EU's rotating presidency on July 6, said he was in favor of admitting Balkan countries, and improving relations with Russia.

Providing honest prospects and a credible path to the EU for the countries of the Western Balkans will serve the bloc’s political, economic and security interests, Kurz stressed, having described the region as one of the priorities of Austria and its EU presidency.

Austrian chancellor assures stance on Kosovo won't change (Tanjug, B92)

A political storm in Vienna caused by the Austrian vice-chancellor's statement that Kosovo is a part of Serbia is not dying down, Tanjug is reporting.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's session of his cabinet, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said Austria was "a friend that supports the Western Balkans and is trying to contribute to the normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations."