Time.mk: VMRO in line with Serbia, against Kosovo membership in KiE

Although Northern Macedonia has recognised Kosovo citizenship, VMRO appears to want to freeze relations with official Pristina and turn towards official Belgrade.

Today, VMRO deputy Aleksandar Nikolovski, formerly deputy chairman of Mickoski, has not travelled to Strasbourg, when Kosovo's membership in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is expected to be voted on in the Council of Europe, writes the newspaper KOHA.

Two other members of Northern Macedonia have travelled to Strasbourg, DUI MP Arta Bilall Zendeli and LSDM deputy Darko Kaevski, while VMRO's Nikolovski is missing.

In a conversation with the newspaper KOHA, MP Bilall Zendeli indicates that in the afternoon, the debate on Kosovo's Report and application begins as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly in the Council of Europe, while around 20 o'clock it should be voted. Both Bilall Zendeli and Kaevski have warned they will vote FOR Kosovo's membership in the APKE.

In Brussels, MP Bilalli Zendeli is with colleague Kaevski, while VMRO's Nikolovski is missing.

KOHA newspaper finds Nikolovski has not gone to Strasbourg, as VMRO's position is not to be voted FOR the membership of Kosovo, and with that, please Serbia and Aleksandar Vucic.

Northern Macedonia has three members in the Parliament Council: VMRO's Aleksandar Nikolovski, LSDM's Darko Kaevski and DUI's Arta Bilalli Zendeli. Their deputy are Vlado Misallovski, Fenica Nikolovska and Artina Qazimi.

Otherwise, membership in the Council of Europe a goal of Kosovo since declaring independence from Serbia in 2008 would, among other things, imply representing its parliamentarians at the organisation's Parliamentary Assembly. Kosovars could also present their cases to the European Court for Human Rights. The country would join the Union of European Broadcasting, paving the way for its participation in the annual Eurovision song contest.

If, tonight in Strasbourg two-thirds of national parliamentarians representing the organisation's 46 member states give the green light, the issue will pass before the Council of Europe foreign ministers exactly one month later, and they will make the final decision. (time. mk)