Kosovo abandons bid to join Interpol this year

Pristina, 21 September 2017 (MIA) - Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has withdrew Kosovo application for Interpol membership, his cabinet said in a press release on Thursday.
Haradinaj's move follows the statement of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, who said that Kosovo failed to secure enough support to join from existing members.
Many countries voiced support for Kosovo’s membership, but not in enough numbers for the country to become a member, the press release reads.
'As Prime Minister, I have decided today to postpone Kosovo’s request for an Interpol vote at the next meeting of this organization,' Haradinaj said in a written statement.
He extended gratitude to all Kosovo institutions, involved in the Interpol accession procedure, as well as to the international partners. Everybody should 'work for Kosovo' for the country to become Interpol member, Haradinaj said.
'Membership of Interpol was an important contribution to the fight against international crime and terrorism and Kosovo is ready to assume its full responsibilities as an Interpol member,' Haradinaj said.
Kosovo has applied for Interpol membership twice before but was rejected, most recently in November 2016.
To obtain Interpol membership, a new applicant needs the backing of two-thirds of the 190 member states. lk/19:50
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Tusk advocates strengthening of EU role in Western Balkans
Brussels, 21 September 2017 (MIA) - Strengthening of the EU role in the region of Western Balkans is one of the Union's priorities, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Thursday.
Tusk said that in agreement with Prime Minister Borisov, he would proposed for Bulgaria to host the EU-Western Balkan Summit in May next year.
'We should continue to develop the international role of the Union, in our neighbourhood as well as at the global level. In the October European Council I suggest that we discuss our reaction to developments in relations with Turkey, and in May next year I propose, in agreement with Prime Minister Borisov, that we gather in Bulgaria for a Western Balkans summit,' Tusk says in a letter to EU leaders ahead of their informal dinner in Tallinn. lk/21:18
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Turkey to deploy troops inside Syria's Idlib - Erdogan
New York, 22 September 2017 (MIA) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday Turkey will deploy troops in Syria’s northern Idlib region as part of a so-called de-escalation agreement brokered by Russia last month, Reuters reports.
The “de-escalation” zones, agreed by Turkey, Russia and Iran, would be further discussed in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Ankara next week, Erdogan said in an interview with Reuters while he was in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly.
“Under the agreement, Russians are maintaining security outside Idlib and Turkey will maintain the security inside Idlib region,” Erdogan said.
“The task is not easy ... With Putin we will discuss additional steps needed to be taken in order to eradicate terrorists once and for all to restore peace.”
Erdogan also said Turkey was considering counter-measures, including imposing sanctions, against Kurdish northern Iraq over a planned referendum.
Iraqi Kurdish authorities have defied growing international pressure to call off the referendum on independence. Iraq’s neighbors fear it will fuel unrest among their own Kurdish populations and Western allies said it could detract from the fight against Islamic State.
Turkey has brought forward a cabinet meeting and national security council session to Friday over the referendum, Erdogan said. He said that parliament would also convene for an extraordinary meeting on Saturday.
“Without any further delay we are going to discuss what kind of sanctions should be imposed and when the sanctions will be imposed,” he said without elaborating on what they might be.
Turkish troops are also carrying out military exercises near the border and Erdogan said on Saturday the resolution on troop deployment abroad will be submitted to parliament for a vote.