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Kosovo does not meet conditions for CoE membership
Belgrade,
15 December 2017
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said today that the announced application of Pristina for membership in the Council of Europe (CoE) should be rejected, because Kosovo does not meet the basic conditions for membership.
Dacic told Tanjug news agency on the occasion of the announcement by Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Enver Hoxhaj that during this month, and not later than January 2018, Kosovo will apply for membership in the Council of Europe, that there is no basis for this request to be considered since Kosovo is not a state.
He said that if Kosovo is admitted to the Council of Europe because it was recognised by a large number of countries in Europe, that would be a policy of force and Serbia will know very well how to evaluate such an attitude of some countries.
Dacic stated that the request of Kosovo is contrary to basic legal principles for membership in international organisations and UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
According to the First Deputy Prime Minister, such a request would be contradictory with the Statute of the Council of Europe and the status neutral policy of this organisation towards Kosovo-Metohija, as well as with the opinion of the Legal Service of the Council of Europe from 2008.
Kosovo does not meet the basic principles and standards of the Council of Europe in terms of protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law either, Dacic explained.
The First Deputy Prime Minister noted that the membership application is contrary to the principle of Article 1 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, as it undermines the unity of this organisation, as 13 members did not recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. This would also jeopardise the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which is essential for the stability of the region, Dacic stressed.
Dacic stated that the request of Kosovo is contrary to basic legal principles for membership in international organisations and UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
According to the First Deputy Prime Minister, such a request would be contradictory with the Statute of the Council of Europe and the status neutral policy of this organisation towards Kosovo-Metohija, as well as with the opinion of the Legal Service of the Council of Europe from 2008.
Kosovo does not meet the basic principles and standards of the Council of Europe in terms of protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law either, Dacic explained.
The First Deputy Prime Minister noted that the membership application is contrary to the principle of Article 1 of the Statute of the Council of Europe, as it undermines the unity of this organisation, as 13 members did not recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. This would also jeopardise the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which is essential for the stability of the region, Dacic stressed.
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