3 minutes agoThe government letter is hurrahed by Macron, Scholz, and Mellon, Kurt becomes even clearer the condition for the KiE
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)France, Germany and Italy have insisted on a letter sent to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, that they support the draft state proposed by the European Union's special envoy for the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, for the establishment of an Association of Serb majority municipalities. Weeks earlier, Kurt was addressed to the leaders of [...]
Weeks ago, Kurti had addressed the leaders of these three countries with a letter, clarifying why the Kosovo government cannot submit that draft-status to the Constitutional Court and had proposed to write a new one with the current mayors of Serb majority municipalities.
Although Kurti received answers Wednesday to this, the government addressed these countries the same day with a new letter to the issue.
In the joint letter of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Mellon on May 15th, which Radio Free Europe has seen reportedly that the draft state put forward by Lajcak is not simply “a proposal of gentlemen”.
“It is a stable model, carefully compiled with the help of European lawmakers and experts, in line with the best practices existing in Europe. He fully considers all your red lines as well as the legal framework and the Constitution of Kosovo. As such, he enjoys our complete support. We stress again that we do not want an dysfunctional Kosovo, and association is in no way comparable to Republika Srpska”, says the letter.
Kurti, in his letter to them, had also left an opportunity to consider Lajcak's draft, but only after it was first reviewed by legal experts from the Council of Europe.
I would also be open to the option for Lajcak's draft status to be submitted by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers for a consideration by the dominant lawyers appointed by the Secretariat and Bureau of the Council of Europe to assess compliance with Kosovo's obligations, according to the Council of Europe. I'm afraid I'm going to respect the findings of the dominant jurists with the highest respect“, Kurti wrote.
But, Macron, Scholz and Mellon said the surrender of draft status to Council of Europe experts “would not constitute the necessary decisive step, since their opinion would not be legally binding”, insisting that Kurti submit it to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo.
This can only be achieved by sending it to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo in a way that is acceptable to the Court. As it clears up with Brussels, there are no legal obstacles to the EU-brokered dialogue to take this step”, said further on the letter of leaders.
Leaders also rejected a Kurt proposal to compile a new draft status for Association.
Your proposal to compile a new draft in consultation with the current mayors, or with the deputy mayors, is neither appropriate nor applicable because of current circumstances in these” municipalities, they said.
The four majority Serb municipalities in the north of the country are led by Albanian leaders, who came to power last year in local elections that were boycotted by Serb parties and citizens there, and after Serbian citizens did not participate in a vote last month for their departure through petition.
Kurti had earlier said he would not accept association as a condition for membership in the Council of Europe.
In his letter, Kurti had told three European leaders that their demand that Kosovo “submits this draft to the Constitutional Charter also jeopardises the process of dialogue, as it opposes the principle of equality, which envisions the Base Agreement”.
“Draft The statute has not been adopted or considered in the high-level dialogue in Brussels, so it remains only a draft, which has not been adopted“written in his letter Kurti.
Days earlier, Kurti said Kosovo had offered that Lajcak's draft status would become part of the package of the Brussels Base Agreement, and the Ohrid Annex, and be signed to become legally binding and applicable.
“It was rejected by Serbia”, Kurti said.
Kosovo and Serbia reached Agreements on normalising relations early last year. But neither side, according to the EU, is implementing it.
The KiE Parliamentary Assembly has voted for Kosovo's admission on 16 April, and the final decision has been passed to the Committee of Ministers, which meets on 16 May and 17 May.
Kosovo applied to join the KiE nearly two years ago on 12 May, 2022.
Kosovo is not expected to be on the agenda of the KiE Committee of Ministers on May 17th, where it could be voted for its admission to this organisation.
Kurt was warned by Macron, Scholz and Mellon that his actions and positions “at this crucial moment will be crucial to Kosovo's goals of joining the Council of Europe.
“Topi is now in your field. We sincerely count on your leadership”, Report rel.
“Prime Minister, let us be clear: There is a big risk that, without decisive progress towards association, Kosovo's application for membership to the Council of Europe will not receive sufficient support from member states. Moving forward on the road suggested by the QUINT would prove your commitment to minority rights, and thus strengthen Kosovo's stance and revive the EU-brokered dialogue. This is the only way to ensure success in your” application, they said.
