Latest news with #Kurti
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU says it has begun to ease sanctions on Kosovo
(Reuters) -The EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas on Thursday said the bloc has begun to lift sanctions on Kosovo, but that the process would be conditional on a sustained de-escalation of violence and hostilities in the north. The European Union placed economic curbs on the country in 2023 for its role in tensions in the Serb-dominated north, where leftist Albanian nationalist Prime Minister Albin Kurti has sought to extend government control. The bloc cut at least 150 million euros ($170 million)in funding, Reuters found. "As a sign of our commitment, I can announce that the EU has begun to gradually lift measures introduced in June 2023," Kallas told reporters in Pristina. "The decision opens the door for greater opportunities for crossovers, development and also closer ties with Europe. But it's conditional on sustained de-escalation in the North." Kallas also urged Kosovo's political parties to end disputes that have blocked the formation of a new government after February elections, saying functioning institutions were needed to secure EU membership. Kurti has repeatedly failed to secure the election of a new speaker, prompting fears of an economic backlash after months of political stalemate in one of Europe's poorest countries. Lawmakers have been meeting every 48 hours since mid-April to elect a new speaker, a step required before Kurti, who failed to win a majority in a February election, can try to form a coalition government. Kallas, who earlier on Thursday also visited Serbia, said that the 27-member bloc was opened to enlargement and wanted Kosovo to take advantage of the bloc's 6 billion euro Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. "For that to happen, Kosovo needs functioning institutions that can effectively implement reforms, and that's why I encourage all parties to break the political stalemates and swiftly form a government," she said. Both Kosovo and Serbia aim to join the European Union, but in order to make progress they need to normalise ties with each other and establish diplomatic relations. In 2013 the parties agreed to an EU sponsored dialogue, but little progress has been made. ($1 = 0.8866 euros)
Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Kosovo's political stalemate could put EU funds at risk, trade body warns
FILE PHOTO: Lawmakers gather for the plenary session to elect the new speaker of the parliament in Pristina, Kosovo April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj/File Photo GDANSK, Poland - Kosovo's parliament failed to elect a new speaker for the 15th straight time on Wednesday, prompting fears of an economic backlash after months of political stalemate in one of Europe's poorest countries. Lawmakers have been meeting every 48 hours since mid-April to elect a new speaker, a step required before Prime Minister Albin Kurti, a leftist nationalist who failed to win a majority in a February election, can try to form a coalition government. But that is proving difficult without cross-party support: Albulena Haxhiu, Kurti's candidate for speaker, has repeatedly fallen shy of the 61 votes needed. On Wednesday she received 54 votes. The parliament is set to reconvene in two days. No law limits the stalemate, although some analysts have said that President Vjosa Osmani could call snap elections if it continues. However, if parliament keeps failing to elect a speaker, experts say Kosovo, a small Balkan country of 1.6 million people that gained independence from Serbia in 2008, risks delaying or losing sorely needed funding from the European Union and the World Bank that is earmarked for health, education and green energy. "There are projects and loans worth 700-800 million waiting to be voted in the parliament that are hanging because of the crisis," Lulzim Rafuna, president of Kosovo's Chamber of Commerce, told Reuters. "Businesses are in limbo without knowing what reforms, fiscal politics and what taxes they will have from the new government." Following a request for comment, Kosovo's outgoing deputy prime minister Besnik Bislimi said in a statement that no EU funds would be lost, and that a speaker should be approved so that parliament could vote through the funding. The crisis comes after an acrimonious election in which the opposition argued over major issues including Kosovo's tense relations with Serbia - an issue that led the EU to cut funding to Kosovo in 2023. In a Tuesday interview with public broadcaster RTK, Kurti offered no sign that he would change his candidate despite opposition demands to do so. "They (the opposition) don't believe that I have 61 votes to become prime minister and I am telling them test me," Kurti said. He did not say how he expected to win enough votes to form a government when he cannot get enough votes for his candidate for speaker. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Arab News
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia showcases Islamic heritage at Jusoor exhibition in Kosovo
RIYADH: Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti recently inaugurated the sixth Jusoor exhibition at Skanderbeg Square in the capital, Pristina. The exhibition is organized by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs in cooperation with the religious attache at the Saudi Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 10-day event coincides with the launch of the final qualifiers for the third international Holy Qur'an memorization competition in the Balkans, held in cooperation with the Islamic Sheikhdom in Kosovo. The exhibition promotes authentic Islamic principles and highlights values such as moderation, mercy and justice, the Saudi Press Agency reported. It features diverse cultural and outreach activities and showcases the Kingdom's rich Islamic and historical heritage, aiming to foster intercultural dialogue and build bridges between communities. Kurti praised the Kingdom's historical and humanitarian support for Kosovo, noting its consistent solidarity, especially during critical moments in the country's recent history. He added that this reflected the friendship and ties between the two nations. 'The Kingdom is close to the people of Kosovo, and the support it provided — especially during difficult times — is evidence of the strong and sincere friendship between us. We are grateful for it,' he said. Kurti said that relations between the two countries had developed into a strong and growing partnership. He highlighted cooperation in tourism, education, the economy and culture, pointing to recent citizen exchanges for various purposes. He added that the exhibition's name reflected Arab heritage and the Kingdom's spirit, enriching Kosovar understanding of Saudi culture. Kurti said that this cultural bridge connected societies, serving as a platform for reflection and interaction. The Kingdom stood as a model promoting peace and unity, honoring the past and offering hope for the future, he said. Sheikh Naim Ternava, grand mufti and head of the Islamic Sheikhdom in Kosovo, expressed gratitude to the Kingdom for its support. He said that the event resulted from cooperation between the Islamic Sheikhdom and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, reflecting their shared commitment to promoting Islamic values, cultural exchange and building bridges of communication.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kosovo in political stalemate as parliament fails to elect speaker
By Fatos Bytyci PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo's parliament failed to elect a new speaker for the fourth time on Friday, prolonging a legislative crisis that has prevented efforts to form a new government more than two months after an inconclusive election. Under Kosovo's constitution, a parliamentary speaker must be voted in before the election winner can form a government, but without cross-party support that is proving difficult, and the stalemate has exposed deep divisions in Europe's newest state. In the February 9 parliamentary election, following an acrimonious campaign in which outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the opposition "animals" and "thieves", his Vetevendosje party came first but did not secure an outright majority. Opposition parties, who have said they will not enter a coalition with Vetevendosje, partly blame Kurti for escalating the tensions in the country's Serb-majority north that have hobbled Kosovo's chances of joining the EU and triggered sanctions from the bloc. The fractured political scene could result in a snap election later this year if no government can be formed. Kurti's nominee for speaker, outgoing justice minister Albulena Haxhiu, received 57 votes on Friday, unchanged from previous votes and short of a required majority of 61 seats. Parliament must meet again in 48 hours to hold another vote. Opposition parties have asked Kurti to change the candidate if he wants their support. "There is no will from political parties to constitute the parliament," Haxhiu said after the vote. By law, parliament must continue to meet until a speaker is voted in. After that the country's president will give Kurti's party a mandate to form a new ruling coalition. If Kurti fails, the mandate will be handed to the second-placed Democratic Party of Kosovo and, if they do not succeed, the third-placed Democratic League of Kosovo party. If all efforts fail, the president can call snap elections - an outcome many analysts expect.
The Star
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Kosovo in political stalemate as parliament fails to elect speaker
Lawmakers gather for the plenary session to elect the new speaker of the parliament in Pristina, Kosovo April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo's parliament failed to elect a new speaker for the fourth time on Friday, prolonging a legislative crisis that has prevented efforts to form a new government more than two months after an inconclusive election. Under Kosovo's constitution, a parliamentary speaker must be voted in before the election winner can form a government, but without cross-party support that is proving difficult, and the stalemate has exposed deep divisions in Europe's newest state. In the February 9 parliamentary election, following an acrimonious campaign in which outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the opposition "animals" and "thieves", his Vetevendosje party came first but did not secure an outright majority. Opposition parties, who have said they will not enter a coalition with Vetevendosje, partly blame Kurti for escalating the tensions in the country's Serb-majority north that have hobbled Kosovo's chances of joining the EU and triggered sanctions from the bloc. The fractured political scene could result in a snap election later this year if no government can be formed. Kurti's nominee for speaker, outgoing justice minister Albulena Haxhiu, received 57 votes on Friday, unchanged from previous votes and short of a required majority of 61 seats. Parliament must meet again in 48 hours to hold another vote. Opposition parties have asked Kurti to change the candidate if he wants their support. "There is no will from political parties to constitute the parliament," Haxhiu said after the vote. By law, parliament must continue to meet until a speaker is voted in. After that the country's president will give Kurti's party a mandate to form a new ruling coalition. If Kurti fails, the mandate will be handed to the second-placed Democratic Party of Kosovo and, if they do not succeed, the third-placed Democratic League of Kosovo party. If all efforts fail, the president can call snap elections - an outcome many analysts expect. (Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Writing by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Edward McAllister and Hugh Lawson)
