Serbia

Serbia, Kosovo reach agreement to implement EU-backed deal normalising ties

OHRID, North Macedonia, (Reuters) - Kosovo and Serbia have reached an agreement on implementing a European Union-backed deal to normalise ties, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said late on…

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Thousands in Belgrade protest against Western-backed Serbia-Kosovo deal

BELGRADE, March 17 (Reuters) - Several thousand people gathered in Belgrade to protest against a Western-backed deal to normalise ties between Kosovo and Serbia, which they view as recognition of…

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Serbia, Kosovo deal possible this year

BELGRADE, March 16 (Reuters) - An agreement over the normalisation of ties between Serbia and Kosovo this year is "entirely" possible, a U.S. envoy said. Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic and…

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EU hopeful that Kosovo and Serbia will reach deal this month

PRISTINA (Reuters) - The European Union expects former wartime foes Kosovo and Serbia to reach a final deal next week on normalising relations after both endorsed a peace plan, the…

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Serbian nationalists march in protest against Kosovo talks

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Hundreds of Serb nationalists and Orthodox Christians marched in Belgrade on Sunday to protest against a Western plan aimed at mending ties between Serbia and its former…

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Serbia, Kosovo back normalising ties but need more talks -EU’s Borrell

The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo agreed on Monday to a Western-backed deal to normalise relations but more talks are needed on the implementation of the pact, European Union foreign policy…

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Kosovo celebrates independence with eye to reaching deal with Serbia

PRISTINA, Feb 17 (Reuters) - National flags waved in Pristina's streets on Friday as Kosovo celebrated 15 years of independence with an eye to reaching a normalisation deal with Serbia,…

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Serbia arrests three after nationalist calls for riots over Kosovo plan

BELGRADE, (Reuters) - Serbian police arrested three people in Belgrade after ultra-nationalist and pro-Russian activists threatened "more than" riots if Serbia accepts a Western-backed plan aimed at normalising relations with…

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Serb nationalists pledge riots if Belgrade tries to improve ties with Kosovo

BELGRADE, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Hundreds of hardline Serb nationalists and pro-Russia activists rallied in downtown Belgrade, threatening riots if Serbia accepts a Western-backed plan aimed at mending ties with…

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Stand-off with minority Serbs holds back Kosovo 15 years after independence

When in December Serbia put forces on highest combat alert in response to increasing violence in Kosovo between police and minority Serb protesters, a shareholder in Pristina's newest shopping mall…

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Sanctions on Russia are main obstacle to Serbia’s EU bid – PM Brnabic

BELGRADE, (Reuters) - Serbia's refusal to impose sanctions on its ally Russia remains the main obstacle to a speedier European Union accession bid, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said, describing the…

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U.S. supports Serbia’s move to commit to future in EU – ambassador

The United States supports Serbia's intention to pursue an international plan to normalise ties with Kosovo and eventually join the European Union, the U.S. ambassador to Serbia said on Tuesday.…

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NATO declines Serbia’s request to deploy its troops in Kosovo

BELGRADE, Jan 8 (Reuters) - NATO's mission in Kosovo, KFOR, has declined a Serbian government request to send up to 1,000 police and army personnel to Kosovo following a spate…

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Kosovo re-opens border crossings after Serbs remove roadblocks

PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo opened two border crossings with Serbia in the volatile north on Friday, following three weeks of closure after Serbs set up roadblocks to protest against the…

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Serbia removes state of high alert for troops

BELGRADE, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Serbia on Thursday removed a state of high alert for its troops that it had introduced three days ago over tensions in Kosovo, news agency Tanjug reported,…

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Serbs in northern Kosovo to start removing barricades from Thursday

By Fatos Bytyci MITROVICA, Kosovo, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Kosovo Serbs who have been blocking roads in northern Kosovo for 19 days have agreed to start removing barricades from Thursday morning, bowing…

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UPDATE – US, EU, NATO urge restraint as Serbia-Kosovo border crossings close

Serbia put its army on highest alert on Monday Third major border crossing closed on Wednesday Serbs in northern Kosovo resist moves they see as anti-Serb Kosovo declared independence, with…

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Kremlin backs Serbia, denies Russia is stoking tensions in Kosovo

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, Dec 28 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Wednesday said it supported Serbia's attempts to protect ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo but denied Pristina's accusation that Russia…

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Kosovan minister says Serbia aims to destabilise the country

MITROVICA, Kosovo (Reuters) -Kosovan Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla on Tuesday said Serbia, under the influence of Russia, was aiming to destabilise Kosovo by supporting the Serb minority in the north…

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EU prepared to send reinforcements to mission in Kosovo

BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The European Union is ready to reinforce its EULEX mission, tasked with patrolling northern Kosovo, in response to the latest tensions in the region, the bloc's foreign…

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EU’s Borrell urges Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate after latest clashes

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Kosovo and Serbia must de-escalate a tense situation in the region, the European Union's foreign policy chief said, after Serb protesters in northern Kosovo blocked main roads…

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Serbs in Kosovo clash with police as ethnic tensions flare

MITROVICA, Kosovo (Reuters) -Serb protesters in northern Kosovo blocked main roads for a second day on Sunday following a nightime exchange of fire with police after the arrest of a…

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Serbia to ask NATO to deploy Serb military, police in Kosovo – Vucic

BELGRADE (Reuters) -Serbia will ask NATO peacekeepers to let it deploy Serbian military and police in Kosovo, although it believes there is no chance of the request being approved, President…

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No one can bypass EU sanctions against Russia through Serbia, Vucic says

BELGRADE, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday no one can bypass EU sanctions against Russia through Serbia, which imports all of its gas from Russia…

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EU warns of escalating Serbia, Kosovo tensions

The European Union on Monday warned of "escalation and violence" after emergency talks between Kosovo and Serbia failed to resolve their long-running dispute over car licence plates used by the ethnic…

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EU holds emergency meeting with Serbia and Kosovo over rising tensions

BRUSSELS, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The European Union on Monday will hold an emergency meeting with the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti to…

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Serbia, Hungary and Austria agree to bolster fight against illegal migrations

By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbia on Wednesday agreed with Hungary and Austria to deploy more joint police patrols along its southern borders and align visa policies with those…

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Western Balkans leaders to sign deals on closer integration in Berlin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Western Balkans leaders are set to sign three agreements on mutual recognition of identity cards, university degrees and professional qualifications at a summit in Berlin on Thursday.…

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Serbia’s president warns: We’ll shoot down foreign drones

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić issued an order Tuesday for Serbian forces to shoot down foreign drones entering the country’s airspace. According to unconfirmed reports by the Serbian pro-government daily Večernje…

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Kosovo backs off from Serb car plate rule after West warnings

PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo said it will delay a rule to confiscate cars owned by ethnic Serbs who refuse to use local car plates following criticism by Western countries that…

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Serbia must adapt to EU visa policy to join bloc – German interior minister

BERLIN, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Serbia must adapt to European Union visa policy if it wants to join the bloc, Germany's interior minister said in Luxembourg on Friday. "I hope…

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Hungary, Serbia agree to build pipeline to ship Russian oil to Serbia

BUDAPEST, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Hungary and Serbia have agreed to build an oil pipeline that would allow Serbia to be supplied with Russian Urals crude via the Druzhba oil…

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Serbia’s police prevent 200 migrants from entering Hungary, seize money, weapons

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Serbian police prevented 200 migrants from crossing into the country's northern neighbour Hungary and seized money and weapons, the interior ministry said. The number of illegal migrants…

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EU has “serious questions” as Serbia enters regular consultations with Russia

BRUSSELS, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The EU on Monday denounced a decision by Serbia to hold regular foreign policy consultations with Russia, saying the move raised "serious questions" at a…

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Serbia police clash with right-wing protesters at LGBTQ march

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Police clashed with right-wing protesters on Saturday as several thousand people joined an LGBTQ march in Serbia to mark the end of EuroPride week, an event staged…

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Thousands march in Belgrade against planned Gay Pride parade

BELGRADE, (Reuters) - Thousands of religious and right-wing activists marched through Serbia's capital on Sunday calling for authorities to ban a Gay Pride march planned for next weekend. The protesters…

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Why ethnic tensions are flaring again in northern Kosovo

PRISTINA (Reuters) - Kosovo began on Thursday a two-month implementation period for a controversial move to oblige Serbs, mainly those living in the northern part of the Balkan nation, bordering…

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UPDATED: EU urges Kosovo to give ‘sufficient time’ for car licensing rule

BRUSSELS, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The European Union said on Thursday that Pristina should give sufficient time for the implementation of a rule under which ethnic Serbs living in northern…

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EU says Serbia, Kosovo settle dispute over identity documents

BRUSSELS, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Serbia and Kosovo have settled an ethnic dispute over the movement of citizens across their border, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Saturday. "We…

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Number plate row fuels ethnic tensions in Kosovo as Serbia seeks more talks

BELGRADE, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Mediated talks over the status of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo have failed to ease tensions - fuelled by a dispute over car number plates -…

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Serbia warns NATO over safety of Kosovo Serbs

Ethnic Serbs working in Kosovo will leave their jobs unless a deal is reached to end their "persecution," Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic warned on Sunday. In a fiery TV address after meeting Kosovo Serbs, Vucic called…

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Kosovo PM warns of possible new conflict with Serbia

PRISTINA, (Reuters) - Kosovo is prepared to stand against a possible attack by Serbia as worsening strife with minority Serbs could result in a new armed conflict, Prime Minister Albin…

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Serbia, Kosovo leaders to discuss tensions at Brussels Aug. 18 meeting

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo will meet in Brussels on Aug. 18 to discuss a flare-up of tensions between the neighbouring western Balkan nations, the European Union's executive…

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Kosovo starts issuing extra documents to Serbian citizens as protesters block roads

ZUPCE, Kosovo (Reuters) - Kosovo's government on Monday began issuing extra documents to Serbian citizens crossing into its territory, as Serbs living in the north of the country who oppose…

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UPDATE – Crew killed in cargo plane crash in Greece, airline Meridian says

KYIV (Reuters) - All the crew were killed when an Antonov An-12 cargo plane crashed in northern Greece late on Saturday, an official at Ukraine's Meridian cargo airline said on…

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Russians fleeing sanctions open 1,000 firms in Serbia

In just over three months since the start of the Ukrainian crisis, Russians have opened more than 1,000 businesses in Serbia, and the latest figures show that over 10 companies…

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Russia’s Lavrov visit to Serbia denied as Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Montenegro refuse use of airspace

Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic on Monday morning met with Russian ambassador Aleksandr Botsan-Kharcenko, who informed him of the reasons that prevented Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov from arriving in Belgrade. "Ambassador…

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Serbia’s Vucic says agreed 3-year gas supply contract with Putin

BELGRADE, May 29 (Reuters) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday he had agreed a new three-year gas supply contract in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I can…

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Photo Story: Easter preparations in Belgrade, Serbia

A woman picks hand decorated Easter eggs at a farmers market in Belgrade, Serbia, 22 April 2022. The Orthodox Christian world will celebrate Easter Day on 24 April, according to…

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Serbia restricts exports of grains and cooking oil

SARAJEVO, April 20 (Reuters) - Serbian government said on Wednesday it has restricted the quantities of wheat, corn, flour and cooking oil slated for export to confront risks of market disturbances caused…

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Serbia accuses Ukraine and unnamed EU country of Air Serbia bomb hoaxes

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused Ukraine and an unidentified EU country of being behind a series of hoax bomb threats against Air Serbia planes. Since Russia launched its invasion of…

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Pro-Russia Serbs protest in Belgrade to support Russia and against NATO

BELGRADE (Reuters) - Thousands of Serbs waving Russian and Serbian flags and carrying pictures of President Vladimir Putin marched through Belgrade to the Russian embassy on Friday, to protest Serbia's…

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Serbia’s incumbent President Vucic set to win second term

BELGRADE, April 3 (Reuters) - Serbia's incumbent President Aleksandar Vucic is set to win the presidential vote on Sunday with 59.8% of the votes, according to a projection by pollsters Ipsos and CeSID, based…

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Serbians go to polls to pick president, parliament amid Ukraine war

BELGRADE, April 3 (Reuters) - Serbians will vote on Sunday in presidential and parliamentary elections that pit incumbent President Aleksandar Vucic and his Progressive Party (SNS) against an opposition pledging to fight…

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Eight killed as coal mine shaft in Serbia collapses – report

BELGRADE, April 1 (Reuters) - At least eight miners were killed and about 20 were injured on Friday when a shaft collapsed in a state-owned coal mine in southern Serbia, RTS state…

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Pro-Russia demonstrations in Belgrade as Serbia treads ever finer line between East and West

Thousands of Serbs waving Russian flags and carrying pictures of President Vladimir Putin marched through Belgrade to the Russian embassy, in a rare show of public support for Moscow after…

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Serbia caps fuel prices to curb inflation

BELGRADE, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Serbia's government will cap prices of petrol and diesel fuel for a month to curb inflation. The government is taking action to prevent a "major…

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