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Kosovo parliament backs Albin Kurti as new prime minister

23 March 2021 00:16 (UTC +04:00)

Kosovo's parliament backed Albin Kurti as prime minister on Monday, more than a month after the small Balkan country held a snap election, APA reports quoting Reuters.

Kurti, 46, a leftist and an Albanian nationalist, whose coalition secured 67 votes in the 120-seat parliament, said its main priorities will be the fight against corruption and the creation of jobs in a country with the youngest population in Europe and unemployment of around 30%.

If it wants to join the European Union, Kosovo must also improve relations with neighbouring Serbia, which is a candidate for membership in the bloc.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade, backed by Russia, China, and some EU members, refuses to recognise it.

Before the vote, Kurti said he wants to resolve all pending issues with Serbia, but added that recognition of Kosovo's independence by Belgrade remains the main precondition.