Serbia on PACE agenda

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will evaluate Serbia’s progress since becoming a member of that institution. Serbia is already expected to receive a positive report, but attention will be drawn to the need to strengthen democratic institutions, especially the parliament. Serbia on PACE agenda The report, which relates to last year and the first two months of 2009, contains a draft resolution and recommendations, stating that Serbia, since it joined the Council of Europe, has made progress and that its citizens clearly chose the European path at the last parliamentary elections. As well as noting that Serbia is making clear progress in cooperation with the Hague and commending the Serbian government for the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, the report will state that it is convinced of Belgrade’s determination to complete cooperation with the Tribunal. The resolution states that PACE is closely following developments related to Kosovo’s status and urges Belgrade to continue defending its stance using peaceful and diplomatic means, such as the initiative for the International Court of Justice to give its advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence. PACE President Luis Maria de Puig confirmed that the report acknowledged Serbia’s progress, and added that Serbia was a completely democratic country. De Puig said that Kosovo was a very serious question and pointed out that 33 of the CoE’s 47 member-states had recognized Kosovo. “PACE could one day find itself in the awkward position of debating Kosovo, but a proposal for that must be submitted by the CoE Ministerial Committee,” he said. PACE will also discuss a report on the position of human rights activists in its member-states, and PACE members will be addressed by Finish President Tarja Halonen. CoE Secretary General Terry Davis said that Serbia had made a lot of progress in fulfilling its responsibilities as a member of this pan-European organization. To illustrate this, he used the recent visit to Strasbourg by Serbian Justice Minister Snezana Malovic, who brought with her a large number of ratified CoE conventions, which many other members of PACE have yet to deliver. “I would like other countries to follow Serbia’s example,” Davis said.

Serbia on PACE agenda

The report, which relates to last year and the first two months of 2009, contains a draft resolution and recommendations, stating that Serbia, since it joined the Council of Europe, has made progress and that its citizens clearly chose the European path at the last parliamentary elections.

As well as noting that Serbia is making clear progress in cooperation with the Hague and commending the Serbian government for the arrest of Radovan Karadžić, the report will state that it is convinced of Belgrade’s determination to complete cooperation with the Tribunal.

The resolution states that PACE is closely following developments related to Kosovo’s status and urges Belgrade to continue defending its stance using peaceful and diplomatic means, such as the initiative for the International Court of Justice to give its advisory opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence.

PACE President Luis Maria de Puig confirmed that the report acknowledged Serbia’s progress, and added that Serbia was a completely democratic country.

De Puig said that Kosovo was a very serious question and pointed out that 33 of the CoE’s 47 member-states had recognized Kosovo.

“PACE could one day find itself in the awkward position of debating Kosovo, but a proposal for that must be submitted by the CoE Ministerial Committee,” he said.

PACE will also discuss a report on the position of human rights activists in its member-states, and PACE members will be addressed by Finish President Tarja Halonen.

CoE Secretary General Terry Davis said that Serbia had made a lot of progress in fulfilling its responsibilities as a member of this pan-European organization.

To illustrate this, he used the recent visit to Strasbourg by Serbian Justice Minister Snežana Malović, who brought with her a large number of ratified CoE conventions, which many other members of PACE have yet to deliver.

“I would like other countries to follow Serbia’s example,” Davis said.