Germans versus Escobar: Unbalanized access to Kosovo for KiE establishes membership, not you

This week, US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar stayed in Kosovo to hold meetings from politicians to civil society and the media.

In the latter, he even delivered strange messages.

On March 13th, the Kosovo government asked Kosovo's Cadastral Agency that the properties disputed around the Decani Monastery to register this particular religious institution.

That, according to Kurti, was set as a condition for the country's membership in the Council of Europe.

But the American, in an interview for Radio Free Europe just before leaving Kosovo, said that for membership in the KiE, there are two other conditions: one has to do with expropriations in the north, and the other with the establishment of association.

However, the Germans are not agreeing.

Knut Abraham, Frank Schwabe, Max Lucks, but Michael Roth, all four of these German Bundestag deputies, have come up against Escobar's statements.

They are saying that for Kosovo membership, the KiE country, not the US.

It is completely incomprehensible that the US sets additional conditions for Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe. This unbalannized approach of the US towards Kosovo should eventually be halted. It's unfair. The Council of Europe and its member states command non-USA”, Roth said today in an X post.

Schwabe, Abraham's Lucks during yesterday's day were declared.

With all due respect for the US special envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, the Council of Europe is making possible things that others cannot achieve. And we will decide on Kosovo's application for membership according to our rules and values”, Schwabe said.

Europe's Council is strong because it is independent. For Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe, we will independently decide at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (APKE). Our foundation is the European Convention for Human Rights, which prohibits cruel penalties such as the death penalty as practiced in the United States”, Lucks said.

Knut Abraham said the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will independently define the criteria for Kosovo's membership in the KiE.

“Appreciates Escobar's concerns, but can ensure that PACE will independently define the criteria for the KiE and assess their fulfillment”, Abraham said in an X post.

Among other things, he said that the criteria for membership in KiE, the US did not meet “due to the death penalty”.

Likewise, Austrian MP Stephanie Krisper, who is also a member of the Austrian delegation to the APK.

The US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar voiced concern for Kosovo. It is up to the APK to assess the fulfillment of the membership criteria from Kosovo to the KiE. His rules and values. And we'll do this”, she said at X.