“Kosovo can only partake in regional organizations”

BELGRADE Kosovo can only participate in regional organizations with mandatory footnote in documents from those meetings that there is no prejudging of the status. This is according to Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic. “Kosovo can only partake in regional organizations” He noted that Kosovo, despite an agreement reached by Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels, would not be able to become a member of international organizations such as OSCE and the Council of Europe, and that it could only be a member of regional organizations. “The agreement we reached with Pristina has nothing to do with Pristina institutions’ membership in OSCE and Council of Europe. We have known for a long time that Pristina wants it but that it is also aware that it cannot be achieved without a final agreement on the status of our southern province,” the minister told daily Vecernje novosti. He added that there were two preconditions for a membership in the Council of Europe – that the candidate was a UN member and that its accession was supported by two-thirds of the member states. “Kosovo’s OSCE membership is also a long shot because member states, including Serbia but also Russia, have the power of veto when it comes to new members and only states can become members, not territories,” Mrkic stressed. Ivan Mrkic (Beta, file) Tanjug Vecernje novosti

“Kosovo can only partake in regional organizations”

He noted that Kosovo, despite an agreement reached by Belgrade and Priština in Brussels, would not be able to become a member of international organizations such as OSCE and the Council of Europe, and that it could only be a member of regional organizations.

“The agreement we reached with Priština has nothing to do with Priština institutions’ membership in OSCE and Council of Europe. We have known for a long time that Priština wants it but that it is also aware that it cannot be achieved without a final agreement on the status of our southern province,” the minister told daily Večernje novosti.

He added that there were two preconditions for a membership in the Council of Europe – that the candidate was a UN member and that its accession was supported by two-thirds of the member states.

“Kosovo’s OSCE membership is also a long shot because member states, including Serbia but also Russia, have the power of veto when it comes to new members and only states can become members, not territories,” Mrkić stressed.