During the week that we are leaving the country, the president of Albania, Bajram Begaj, visited, where during his two-day visit the idea of ​​a treaty for common defense was emphasized.

On Thursday, a high-level meeting was held in Brussels within the framework of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, between the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, this meeting ended without an agreement.

Although there are still 10 days left until the beginning of the new school year, the Education Union has announced a strike, due to, as they say, the non-fulfillment of their demands by the Government of Kosovo.

President Begaj's visit to Kosovo and Osmani's request for a treaty for common defense

The President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, was on an official visit to Kosovo on Monday, his first visit abroad since he was elected president.

During the visit to Pristina, Begaj was received by the president of the country, Vjosa Osmani, the prime minister Albin Kurti, meanwhile he declared about Kosovo's membership in NATO, the dialogue with Serbia, etc.

Osmani, after the meeting with his Albanian counterpart, proposed in a media conference that between Kosovo and Albania there should be a treaty for mutual protection in case the security of the two states is compromised, Telegrafi reports.

The president also said that this is a good proposal of hers.

Osmani said that it is time to take appropriate steps in this direction to protect the security of the two states.

Meanwhile, President Bajram Begaj has said that Albania strongly supports Kosovo's membership in the North Atlantic Alliance (NATO).

Begaj during a media conference, after the meeting with the president of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani stated that Albania will support our country in all international organizations.

The President of Albania, Bajram Begaj and the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani

"Albania strongly supports Kosovo's membership in NATO and appreciates that the Alliance remains a guarantee of peace in the region and a strategic ally of Kosovo and Albania", said Begaj.

According to him, the liberalization of visas for citizens of Kosovo is a delayed promise.

"The liberalization of visas for the citizens of Kosovo is a delayed promise and a right that they should enjoy, like all the citizens of the region", concludes Begaj.

He also spoke about the dialogue with Serbia, which he said should be concluded with an agreement that will center on mutual recognition.

"The meeting was not easy at all" - Borrell's statement after

From Thursday morning, bilateral and tripartite meetings were held in Brussels at a high level, within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

The Prime Minister of the country, Albin Kurti, and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, met separately with the Head of the EU's Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, and then held a tripartite meeting in which there was no greeting or handshake.

In the building where the meeting was held, the envoy of the United States of America, Gabriel Escobar, was also present.

Despite the meetings, no agreement was reached between Kosovo and Serbia on Thursday.

After the end of the meetings, in the evening hours, the Government of Kosovo issued a press release for the media.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić during the meeting on August 18 in Brussels

The executive announced that two topics were discussed.

The first was the discussion on the General Framework of the Agreement, while the second was on the current political and security issue.

According to the announcement, the Prime Minister said that the agreement should be legally binding for full normalization of relations and mutual recognition should be at the center.

While, it has presented several chapters with relevant elements that this framework should contain.

"Today there were two topics on the agenda.

The first was the discussion on the General Framework of the Agreement.

Prime Minister Kurti emphasized that this agreement should be legally binding for the complete normalization of relations with mutual recognition in the center.

He presented several chapters with relevant elements that this framework should contain".

"The second topic was the current political and security issues for which Prime Minister Kurti pointed out the importance of legality and constitutionality in our country as guarantees of peace, security and equality for all citizens without distinction", the Government's press release states.

Meanwhile, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, after the meeting he held with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, has confirmed that no agreement has been reached regarding the issue of license plates and documents for entry and exit at the border.

In a press conference held in Brussels, Borrell said that the meeting was neither easy nor regular, as it came as a result of the tensions created in the north of the country.

He has declared that he will not surrender and that there is still time until September 1, when Kosovo's decision on reciprocity for license plates and entry-exit documents will come into force.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell

"Today's meeting was not normal, that is, regular.

Together with the representative Lajçak, we called this meeting because we are dealing with mainly negative developments on the ground and increasing tensions in the north of Kosovo.

This meeting was about the responsibility of both leaders in search of a solution in good faith to make efforts towards peace and stability", he said before the media, reports Telegrafi.

Meanwhile, the US also reacted to the Kurti-Vučić meeting and the dialogue, calling for the continuation of the dialogue.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said at the daily press conference that Washington is following the situation closely and as a priority.

"From what we know, the talks are continuing.

We, in partnership with the EU, are following it carefully and encourage both parties to use the dialogue effectively and suggest the parties to continue the dialogue," said Price.

The spokesperson of the State Department added that Washington fully supports the dialogue and said that it is important that both sides use these talks effectively, repeating Washington's position that they should "advance the discussion on the normalization of relations that they have in the premise of mutual recognition".

Price said that the State Department official, Gabriel Escobar, along with the US ambassador to the EU, Mark Gitenstein, are closely monitoring the discussions between Pristina and Belgrade, and added that the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, is personally involved.

"There are a lot of high officials who are watching this issue closely.

We have a senior official who is in Brussels, closely monitoring these talks.

I assure you that these talks have the attention of senior American officials.

Our ambassador to the EU is one of the officials who is watching this closely.

But there are senior officials here in Washington who are doing the same.

This is an issue that Secretary Blinken himself has been personally engaged with for a long time.

This is a priority that involves our entire organization, on the ground and here in the US," he stated.

SBASHK announces a strike from August 24   

Rrahman Jasharaj from SBASHK has said that education will go on a general strike from August 24 or 25, until an agreement is reached with the Government of Kosovo.

Jasharaj also said that the Kurti Government took the wrong position by not having a dialogue with them.

He also said that the education administration and other sectors within it will be involved in this strike.

The president of SBASHK, Rrahman Jasharaj during a press conference

"The Kurti government took the wrong position, we are forced to strike from August 24 or 25.

The administration and other sectors will also be involved in this strike", said Jasharaj.

According to him, the Government has its doors open for reaching an agreement.

"The doors are open for reaching an agreement.

Let's start with 100 euros of support, as there is a terrible increase in prices", said Jasharaj, among other things.

Below you can read the demands of the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Kosovo:

100 euros from the state budget for all employees in the public sector, including employees of Public Enterprises - until the following requirements are met

Determination of the Minimum Wage

Adoption of the Law on Wages

Starting the implementation of the Law on Health Insurance

Signing the comprehensive collective agreement

The amendment-change of the Law on State-Funded Pension Schemes, the acceptance of work experience for all those dismissed during the 90s, and to eliminate the criterion of 15 years of work experience before 1999.