Kosovo PM sends Czech Presidency EU membership application - Reports

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Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti submitted on Thursday Pristina's application for EU membership to the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, media reported. 

Earlier in the day, Kurti reached Prague to submit Kosovo's membership application and was received by Czech Minister for European Affairs Mikulas Bek, Radio Television of Kosovo reported.

It is expected that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announces later today Belgrade's response to Kosovo's application. Vucic will also tell the details of Belgrade's request for sending troops and police forces into Kosovo and Metohija, the border region where tensions escalated earlier this week with Kosovo.

The Serbian president says that some member states supporting Kosovo's bid for EU membership violate Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union on entry conditions.  

With Western support, Kosovo declared its independence in 2008, but Serbia, Russia, China, and about half the UN members have not recognized it.

In September, the Serbian President stressed that he would never recognize Kosovo and "will fight for respect for international law."

In 2016, the European Union and Kosovo signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, which confirmed that Pristina intended to join the bloc and was prepared to carry out the required political, economic, trade, and human rights reforms.  

Check out: Explainer: The Kosovo-Serbia tension