Kosovo will follow CoE work

12/03/2013 19:45

Prishtina welcomed the announcement made by the President of the Council
of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, which allows Kosovo to follow the
Assembly’s work without getting involved in debates and without the
right to vote.

The Kosovo Foreign Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, who is holding an official visit in Strasbourg, declared for Top Channel that the Council of Europe and the General Assembly, as part of this institution, is opening with the gradual admission of Kosovo.

“I want to reiterate that the Council of Europe and the General Assembly, as part of this institution, is opening with the gradual admission of Kosovo. This is proven by my Strasbourg visit and the meeting we are going to have with the General Secretary, Mr.Jaglland. This was unimaginable just one year ago. The recently approved resolution required direct contacts with the Kosovo institutions, and this will be used until we will have full membership. The Kosovo’s presence in the Assembly process is a very important step”, Hoxhaj declared.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Commission for EU Integrity, Lufti Haziri, also an MP with the Kosovo Democratic League, valued this as an indirect admission of Kosovo.

“We are practically dealing with an indirect admission, or a gradual admission, because the invitation as special guests, with a status that is recognized by the Regulation of the Council of Europe, is the first step for Kosovo to earn the observant status, or even direct membership at the Parliamentary Assembly”, Haziri declared.

By the end of January, the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly approved the resolution for Kosovo and recommended that Kosovo and the Council of Europe should establish direct relations, which has been recognized as the first tangible achievement of Kosovo towards the membership in this council.

Top Channel