Daciq: I don't go to Strasbourg if Kosovo's accession procedure is initiated

Serbia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Ivica Dacic, has said he does not intend to go to Strasbourg on Tuesday, on the 20th anniversary of Serbia's admission to the Council of Europe, if Kosovo is to be admitted to that institution a day later.

He has said at a media conference, after meeting with Gabon Foreign Minister Yolanda Nijonnde, that on the 10th anniversary of the achievement of the Brussels Agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, it has become known that the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers will launch procedures for Kosovo's accession to that institution, writes the REL.

Kosovo has not fulfilled its obligations, which it envisions the Brussels Agreement for 10 years, and for that, it must be rewarded and initiated procedures for its accession to the Council of Europe. This is the message that Kosovo can do whatever it wants”, Dacic has said.

Serbia's diplomatic chief has said the Council of Europe has never accepted an entity that is not a state, and that it cannot be discussed protecting Ukraine's integrity without discussing Serbia's integrity.

Has the situation in Kosovo calmed down? Do we have progress in forming the Association of Serb majority municipalities? I have no incentive to go to Strasbourg, and on the following day they start Kosovo's accession procedure at the Council of Europe”, Daciq has said.

Kosovo has submitted its membership application to the Council of Europe in May 2022.

The Council of Europe is an international human rights organisation, democracy and rule of law in Europe, headquartered in Strasbourg, France.

The Council advocates freedom of expression and media, equality and minorities in member states.

To consider Kosovo's request, there must be reconciliation between the two-thirds of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers.

The first step is for one of the member states to apply for Kosovo membership to be introduced into the agenda and voted by the Committee of Ministers.

After securing a majority of two-thirds of that body, the request goes to the Parliamentary Assembly.

If the majority of two thirds are also provided, the demand is returned to the Committee of Ministers for final approval.

At a session organised in January this year, Albania, Northern Macedonia and Croatia have supported Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe, until Serbia has called on member states to reject Kosovo's bid.

Serbia rejects Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe and other international organisations, and campaigns to other states to attract recognition of Kosovo's citizenship.

On this topic, Serbia has Russia, which has been expelled from the Council of Europe because of the war launched in Ukraine in February 2022.

Without Russia, two-thirds of the Council of Europe member states recognise Kosovo's independence.

If it is taken into account that decisions are made by majority of votes, Kosovo's opportunity for membership is real.