Thaci accepts NGO's invitation to attend Belgrade event

Thaci accepts NGO's invitation to attend Belgrade event

Selimi also observed that "the Kosovo government and the police have been able to guarantee complete security to President Nikolic, Prime Minister Vucic and other top-ranked Serbian officials who visited Kosovo."

Thaci was invited by the Youth Education Committee non-governmental organization, and should attend a conference they will organize in Belgrade on April 24.

Selimi noted that the conference will be focused "on youth and reconciliation - and we believe these topics are of importance for both Kosovo and Serbia since we hope there is willingness to move forward in the process of European integrations."

"Deputy Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has never been to Belgrade before, and perhaps this visit could be a test of how far we have come with the normalization of circumstances between Kosovo and Serbia," Selimi told the Beta agency.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in 2008 unilaterally declared independence, which Serbia rejected as a violation of its territorial integrity. Belgrade and Pristina have been involved in EU-mediated dialogue since 2011.

According to Albanian language media in Pristina, Belgrade is now "in an uncomfortable situation" due to great pressure coming from the EU to allow Thaci's trip. The same media claim that "4,000 police officers" will be deployed to ensure his safety.

The Belgrade-based daily Danas writes on Wednesday that the EU is lobbying for the visit to happen, while the government is expected to make a decision this week.

Thaci was one of the leaders of the now disbanded so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) who has been accused by Serbia of committing war crimes - "but it is unclear if there are currently any ongoing process against him," reported Tanjug.