German delegation head at the KE Parliamentary Assembly: Kosovo has met conditions for membership

DW: Mr. Schwabe, you are a pro-active supporter of Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe. Why?

Frank Schwabe: I am one of those who want Kosovo to become a member now, because we do not know what will happen to the US elections, how the political situation will change. So Kosovo is obviously ahead in terms of democracy and human rights and rule of law rather than some other states that are now members of the Council of Europe. In this respect, I would say that Kosovo essentially meets these conditions. But with the decision we will make, there will be an entire list, several pages, of obligations Kosovo must fulfil and receive.

DW: Kosovo has already compromised with the Decani Monastery. Are other conditions dealing with dialogue with Serbia now growing?

Frank Schwabe: We are the Council of Europe, not the European Union, which means we do not simulate negotiations. For example, Serbia is not even on the table when we talk about the Council of Europe's relations with Kosovo. There are things Kosovo should do, however, despite relations with Serbia. The Decani Monastery issue was one of them: It was a Serbian Orthodox monastery, but it was an internal issue of Kosovo. It was important to resolve this. There was a court decision in Kosovo that did not apply. It was resolved in the case of possible membership. If this brings greater dynamism to the negotiation process between the EU, the US, Kosovo and Serbia, then I would welcome that very much. I hope everyone has to work constructively for this, because there's a historic chance of solutions.

DW: Are you optimistic that it can succeed?

Frank Schwabe: I am engaged to have a two-thirds majority, like the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and I believe we will succeed. This is my direct duty because I am the head of the German delegation, but also the largest parliamentary residence at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. I hope that in later this two-thirds majority will be reached at the level of the 46 state Foreign Ministers Committee, which will convene in May. But I find that there are states that want to combine the whole situation with negotiations that are under way at the EU level and with the US and Serbia. I'm one of those who think we should look only at the situation in Kosovo. And the conditions for membership have now been met. I am very sure that we will reach a two-thirds majority at the parliamentary level, and I hope we will get it at the government level.

DW: Serbia is hindering Kosovo from membership in the Council of Europe and is even threatening to withdraw from this organisation. How do you comment?

Frank Schwabe: The only thing I can say is that it is in Serbia's interest for Kosovo to become a member of the Council of Europe. Why? Because if a state is a member of the Council of Europe, it automatically includes protection of minority rights. And if Mr. Vuciq sees threats in Kosovo, of course we have to talk about it, what rights do Serb minorities have in Kosovo? Then it should be of great interest for them to become members of the Council of Europe, because in a monitoring process, the issue of national minorities will immediately play a major role: For example, the election issue. We will observe elections, including local level. And I believe in the end this is also in Serbia's interest. Therefore, we should all be in favour of Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe so that we can have influence there.

Frank Schwabe is a Social Democrat MP in the German Parliament (Bundestag). He is among other leaders of the German delegation at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and simultaneously chairman of the largest parliamentary group in it.