Joseph: Serbia violated its pledges by Ohrid Agreement

He, he has said that for the first time we have seen EU and NATO member states that have not yet recognised Kosovo's independence have not prevented it, until Serbia, with the anti-vote, has violated the pledges of the Ohrid Agreement.

“States like Greece, Slovakia and Ukraine, which has a key role, voted none against Kosovo. They abstained and thus did not oppose the Council of Europe vote, enabling Kosovo to move on and that is very important. It is a positive and enormous step of Kosovo towards the EU and NATO and with practical benefits for Kosovo Albanian and Serb citizens”, Joseph stressed.

He has said he has not been surprised at the vote against Hungary, as according to him its president is an authoritarian leader who is playing double games, but has said this Hungarian opposition will not have any role at the end of the process.

Professor Joseph has further said that Serbia with the Ohrid Agreement has agreed not to prevent Kosovo's membership in European mechanisms, and the case of a vote against the Council of Europe poses violations of its commitments.

He has said that Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq's basic interest is not the welfare of Kosovo Serbs. “... because if he was interested in the welfare of Serbs he would try to resolve these issues. The real beneficiaries of Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe except Albanians will be Kosovo Serbs because they will have access to European justice”, Joseph has indicated.

Approval of Kosovo's application to the Council of Europe, according to the American professor, presents a positive indication of Kosovo's possibility of further progress on its European journey. But he has said that Kosovo has the obligation to accept and push ahead to form association.

The “E knows it's difficult but it's an obligation from preliminary agreements and from the latest ones in Brussels and Ohrid. The association must be established quickly, fairly and effectively, by co-operating with the US and the EU, ensuring that there is no threat to Kosovo's functionality and its whole”, Joseph underlined.

He has not assessed the fact that in the management group, which will draft the Association draft, there is no Albanian. “As far as concrete dynamics are concerned about who will propose Association is less important than the content of the statute. The Kosovo government is working closely with the EU and the US on the content of the statute. It must be one to address the real issues of its citizens and enable itself to function well and effectively. This is in every citizen's interest. An association that makes them feel good and safe”, the American professor said.

He said he is aware that the Albanian side probably poses concern that there is no member of the Kosovo government in this management group, but has said he does not see it as something beyond reach.

“If the management team has Serbs, they will propose a version, which may be unacceptable but does not end with that. Before the meeting on May 2nd, Kosovo can propose its issues and concerns. But Kosovo is entitled to be constructive, to have interest in protecting its constitutional order, its wholeness, its borders, and to not compensate them in any way”, Joseph said, under which the Constitution of Association should be in line with the Constitution of Kosovo and its citizens' interests.

Professor Joseph has said that with the formation of the Association, official Belgrade will no longer be able to sabotage and block elections, while Kosovo will have its own internationally formed personality and will move towards its European integration.

As for the leadership meeting on May 2nd in Brussels, Joseph has said that with recent statements Vuciq has lost his temper and President Osmani and Prime Minister Kurti should guard the nerves and be constructive before the international factor.