Knaus: Government's letter came late, Kosovo séhyn in the agenda of KiE tomorrow

Gerald Knaus, from the European Initiative for Stability, says he does not expect Kosovo to be in the agenda of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers on 17 May, where it could be voted for its admission to this organisation.

This, despite the fact that Kosovo said Thursday that it has sent the letter to the Council of Europe to announce it is preparing the draft state of the Serb majority municipalities to hand over for review at the Constitutional Court.

However, I think member states should say they support Kosovo's initiative and should call for an extraordinary summit soon, hopefully within weeks”, he says of Free Europe Radio.

Meanwhile, some countries like Germany and France have called on Kosovo to take concrete steps towards establishing the Association to convince skeptical governments to vote in favour of membership in the KiE.

The Kosovo government, initially, has rejected this condition.

Radio Free Europe: Kosovo is preparing draft status for the Serb majority municipalities to surrender to the Constitutional Court for review. Is this step a game changer?

Gerald Knaus: It should be a game changer. Let us be clear what the position of Kosovo and European democracies has been. Kosovo has pledged in its letter to the president, prime minister and Parliament Speaker to the Council of Europe that it will take a step to make it possible as soon as possible. But the letter does not say that this association should be one to be accepted by [Serbia's president, Aleksandar] Vuchy, because there will never be one.

So, with sending to the Constitutional Court of a draft that has drafted the two most prominent institutions in Europe, the European Institute for Peace and the Friedri organisation ch-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Kosovo fulfills its obligation. Then, it is up to Serb majority municipalities to say they want to create this association. If they don't want to create it, he can't be imposed. But Kosovo has fulfilled its obligation.

The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe must then support the vote in the Parliamentary Assembly on Kosovo's accession.

Radio Free Europe: What are the chances of Germany and France obeying this draft?

Gerald Knaus: Democracy and diplomacy have to do with arguments. Kosovo needs powerful arguments and it has them. There are those who say Serbia must have veto. There are those who hide behind the request for Association. There are those who have attended Vuciki's visit to Paris, where he said he would seek [the president of France, Emmanuel] It prefers not to allow Kosovo's entry into the Council of Europe, promising to buy 12 combat aircraft, that it will sign contracts with French business.

If this kind of democracy is successful... I don't think it's in Europe's interest.

I don't think France a proud democracy that has created the Council of Europe to protect human rights and values can be manipulated so easily by the Serbian president.

I expect there to be a debate. It is up to the Government of Kosovo to convince everyone that it is serious. It has been serious in recent months. If this continues, then you should hear Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur for Kosovo Dora Bakoyannis. It comes from a country that has not recognised Kosovo, and in its report it has said there were no more prepared candidates than Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Will the EU accept this draft?

Gerald Knaus: The EU is a separate institution. The main issue concerns Germany and France as Council of Europe member states. The EU cannot veto veto. Of course, countries may say they will ignore the Parliamentary Assembly, but then this becomes a crisis for the Council of Europe, not just for Kosovo.

If a process that is meritocratic because 82 percent of the Parliamentary Assembly has voted for Kosovo is ignored, then the Council of Europe has a serious problem with credibility.

Radio Free Europe: Can the last step put Kosovo on the agenda of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on Friday?

Gerald Knaus: No, I think [Kosovo's letter to the Council of Europe] has come a little late. But, I think member states should say they support Kosovo's initiative and should call for an extraordinary summit soon with hope within weeks.

So if Kosovo submits this draft to the Constitutional Court, as it has already said, then there must soon be a summit and Kosovo must be accepted this summer.

This looks real now. It takes time because it is not easy for governments in Europe and in Pristina to find consensus. It's late, but it's not too late.

Radio Free Europe: So you think there will be an extraordinary meeting. When was the last time the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe met at an extraordinary meeting?

Gerald Knaus: As I recall, the last time it was about Russia's expulsion case, following the attack on Ukraine. So this happens for big, historical cases. And Kosovo must now argue on its position. But she also has her allies in Europe.

Radio Free Europe: And if there is no extraordinary meeting, will it have to be expected by next May?

Gerald Knaus: If there is no extraordinary meeting, then we have a real problem. It's very important to argue now. It is also important that countries say that, at the initiative for Association, with the submission of the draft to the Constitutional Court, Kosovo has fulfilled what has been asked.

If the Constitutional Court finds that the [draft] is constitutional, then the ball passes to Serb majority municipalities. They'll have to create the Association, because they can't be imposed. And if they don't, it won't be the Government of Kosovo's fault.