For the first time in 25 years, Besnik Mehmeti, an ethnic Albanian photographer from North Macedonia, is showing his images documenting Kosovo Albanian refugees and the grim reality of war during NATO’s military intervention in 1999. “I entered Kosovo immediately in June 1999 along with the NATO troops and saw the destruction of cities, the…
Kosovo’s transition to green energy is at odds with its energy strategy, which includes significant investments in coal power for electricity. Kosovo’s energy sector stands at a critical juncture. Most energy in Kosovo is produced using coal-fired power plants, but there are growing calls for a shift towards a greener, more sustainable energy industry. Viktor…
Kosovo is struggling with widespread disinformation spread on various online platforms which aims to exacerbate interethnic tensions and undermine trust in law enforcement, often misrepresenting incidents, manipulating facts, and presenting a climate of instability and suspicion between communities. The reporting methods used by various websites and media outlets in Kosovo and neighbouring countries are considered…
In Kosovo, a pioneering project supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is transforming primary healthcare services by training medical staff and establishing Health Education Rooms, providing vital health services and emotional and psychological support for patients with chronic diseases. Resmije Ibrahimi, a 55-year-old from Vushtrri, has recently found solace in the compassionate…
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly voted to advance Kosovo’s status from observer to associate member, with most states in favor. This status allows Kosovo to expand its delegation from its previous observer role. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a recommendation on Monday which granted Kosovo’s delegation an upgraded status from observer to an associate member. Most…
The EU and US have questioned Kosovo’s commitment to dialogue with Serbia after it closed six Serb bank offices under a ban on cash transactions in any currency other than the euro. Kosovo faced a chorus of criticism on Tuesday for closing six Serbian bank offices, a move the United States and European Union said…
Kurti and members of his cabinet joined hundreds of people who gathered at the war memorial in Qyshk/Cuska to commemorate 138 Albanian civilians killed in 1999by Serbian forces in the village and in three neighbouring settlements, Lubeniq/Ljubenic, Pavlan/Pavljan, Zahaq/Zahac. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti speaks at the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the massacre…
German ambassador Jorn Rohde told BIRN in an interview on Thursday that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti should not have been surprised that Germany and France asked Kosovo to send the draft statute of the long-delayed Serb municipality body to the Constitutional Court for approval as a prerequisite for membership of the Council of Europe.“I…
Kosovo officials claimed that the governmental websites had come under attack from Russian hackers because of the country’s support for Ukraine’s self-defence. A Kosovo government spokesperson told BIRN that Russian hackers targeted official websites on Tuesday and Wednesday. “We were informed by the relevant institutions that some government websites have been the target of DDoS…
Prime Minister Albin Kurti rejects Western demand to push ahead with Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities as a condition for Council of Europe membership this month. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, said on Wednesday that his government will not send the Statute of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities, ASMM, for review to the Constitutional Court, a…