Pacolli on Adriatic Charter: Kosovo's NATO accession cannot prevent anyone from region

Kosovo's entry into NATO cannot prevent or delay any of the countries in the region.

It has been one of the main messages of addressing First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Adriatic Charter countries (A5), which is conducting works in Macedonia under the leadership of the latter.

You know the absolute and relative importance of this forum as NATO's parliament, for all of us individually and for Kosovo specifically. Kosovo's entry into NATO can neither prevent nor delay any of the countries in the region. I know Bosnia is one of the states that is hindering this membership. Before you, I want to ask my Bosnian counterpart: Why don't you want Kosovo to be involved in this NATO parade? Does that fact create you with internal problems, interethnic problems? I don't think so. Do you have any disappointment with the treatment of the Bosniak minority in Kosovo? You know, that ethnic stars on the Kosovo flag are equal. You know how well Albanians go with Bosniaks everywhere, to Kosovo and abroad. This, which you're actually doing is the result of not wanting to have relations with us, because you don't want the mutual free movement of our citizens in the respective territories. Why this low level of relationships? Why does Serbia want this? I think you're wrong. And you shouldn't be after Serbia. Serbia with Kosovo has relations of a certain level; talks in Brussels, has free movement of citizens”, Minister Pacolli has said.

“If you do not recognise Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state, what state do you think is located on our territory? Serbia? Neither does Serbia. Not honoured gentlemen, on Kosovo's territory, thanks to NATO's action to stop genocide, thanks to many international resolutions, international administration, people's will expressed the vote of parliament on February 17th 2008, thanks to the 2011 International Court of Justice ruling, there is an independent sovereign state. Serbia knows that too and acknowledges that reality. It's not on any of us's shoulders, turning the wheel of history back. The process of our international integration is irreversible. I proved to Surimin and GuineaBissaun, but the recognition of Kosovo from Madagascar I believe has quieted all of them”, has continued his presentation, Pacolli.

“What do you do when Serbia lifts veto for our UN membership? Doesn't it seem unusual for you to follow this step of Serbia, and then act towards us, even though we're close? I invite you to take a long look. We are small markets and small producers that we need each other. We have early history, actual coexistence with each other. Don't be late. If you are late, tomorrow there will be room for you on our markets”, the head of Kosovo diplomacy said.

In the end, he has extended an invitation to all NATO member states present at this meeting.

I'd like you to understand the symbolic significance of the Adriatic Charter membership news for our public opinion. To work together to encourage Kosovo's public opinion, with news that Kosovo is part of the western state community, and no one can move it”, he said.

Currently, the Republic of Kosovo has the status of an Adriatic Charter observer country, and its participation is based on this status. At the end of last year (2016) the Ministerial Declaration adopted in Zagreb has opened up the possibility of full-fledged Kosovo membership.