Vuciq seeks formation of a team to fight Kosovo's membership in Council of Europe

At the Belgrade meeting, attended by Serbia's Parliament Speaker Anna Brnabiq, Vuciq urged those in attendance to fight more in foreign policy, through co-operation between Government, Parliament and Presidency.

“We have difficult and important tasks, and I would ask all members of the Government, regardless of what positions they will perform after forming the new government, to work devotedly in carrying out these” tasks, Vuciq said.

Vuciq said there are some key “items to which they must agree, regardless of whether Serbia's new government will be formed in a short time.

He said Serbia faces difficult challenges, citing dialogue with Kosovo as well as the possibility of Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe.

He asked the Government to form a team and submit to all an informal document in which Serbia's stance on possible Kosovo membership will be presented to the Council of Europe.

Kosovo aims to join the Council of Europe in the coming months, as last week, the Committee for Policy and Democracy of this organisation approved the Kosovo rapporteur's report, Dora Bakoyannis, which recommended that it has met the conditions for becoming a full member of the Council of Europe.

The Parliamentary Assembly is expected to vote for Kosovo's membership in April, and if it gives the green light, then the final word should be given by the Council of Europe's Council of Ministers in May.

Vuciq acknowledged, however, that our “s are minimal”.

He has called for a change in approach and as the main argument against Kosovo's accession to mention that Pristina has not established the Association of Serb-majority municipalities, rather than that “Kosovo is not a state of”.

Meanwhile, he said Serbia's Parliament Speaker must continue work on implementing ODIHR recommendations and discussions on the terms of local elections in Belgrade.

He said the elections would not be held before May 17th, without the issue of Kosovo's membership at the Council of Europe concluded.

Also attending were members of the security sector, the army, police, and directors of public enterprises. Rel