PACE adopts resolution on situation in Balkans

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) adopted late Thursday a resolution on the political situation in the Balkans. “The PACE urged all the countries of the region to work towards reconciliation and enhancement of dialogue, head of the Serbian parliament's delegation to PACE Dragoljub Micunovic said on Thursday. PACE adopts resolution on situation in Balkans He told Tanjug that the resolution had been upheld by 68 votes and noted that the document was not only relevant to Kosovo but also to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania. Micunovic stressed that a large number of PACE MPs had expressed their support for Serbia's commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Kosovo issue and had clearly pointed out they were against any unilateral decisions. “Some of the speakers, like the Spanish MPs, were more radical in their statements, pointing to the adverse effect of the precedent of recognizing Kosovo independence and the problems faced by the EU since,” he pointed out. The head of the Serbian delegation said he had proposed an international conference on Kosovo to be held under the UN auspices with the EU participation together with Belgrade and Pristina that should offer acceptable solutions for all sides regarding Kosovo’s status and other relevant issues. The resolution adopted by PACE also calls for an urgent and objective investigation into the incident at the Jarinje administrative checkpoint in northern Kosovo on September 27, 2011. "The Assembly urges the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina to resume the EU-mediated dialogue on all outstanding issues in a spirit of cooperation and reconciliation, including the situation in North Kosovo," the Resolution 1839 dubbed “The political situation in the Balkans” reads. "Everything must be done to ensure that North Kosovo does not remain a black hole in the Western Balkans outside the control of the authorities in both Pristina and Belgrade," it is said in the resolution published on PACE website. PACE "deeply regrets the most recent acts of violence involving KFOR" and demands an urgent and objective investigation into the incident at Jarinje "when six individuals were shot." "PACE calls on the people in northern Kosovo to act with restraint and to cooperate without delay and in a constructive manner with the KFOR and the European Union Rule of Law mission in Kosovo (EULEX), and on the authorities in Pristina to respond positively and sensitively to any legitimate concerns of the minorities in the region," the resolution reads. PACE assessed that violent clashes in northern Kosovo on the administrative checkpoints with Serbia were blocking progress in the EU-mediated talks between Pristina and Belgrade. PACE has also called on the Council of Europe member states to urge the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina to seek a peaceful solution to the northern Kosovo issue. PACE also called on its Presidential Committee to consider a mission in the region to intensify the dialogue and overcome the tensions. The Assembly pointed out that "the priorities of the regional and international actors in the region must remain security, stability, respect for human rights, in full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244."

PACE adopts resolution on situation in Balkans

He told Tanjug that the resolution had been upheld by 68 votes and noted that the document was not only relevant to Kosovo but also to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania.

Mićunović stressed that a large number of PACE MPs had expressed their support for Serbia's commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Kosovo issue and had clearly pointed out they were against any unilateral decisions.

“Some of the speakers, like the Spanish MPs, were more radical in their statements, pointing to the adverse effect of the precedent of recognizing Kosovo independence and the problems faced by the EU since,” he pointed out.

The head of the Serbian delegation said he had proposed an international conference on Kosovo to be held under the UN auspices with the EU participation together with Belgrade and Priština that should offer acceptable solutions for all sides regarding Kosovo’s status and other relevant issues.

The resolution adopted by PACE also calls for an urgent and objective investigation into the incident at the Jarinje administrative checkpoint in northern Kosovo on September 27, 2011.

"The Assembly urges the authorities in Belgrade and Priština to resume the EU-mediated dialogue on all outstanding issues in a spirit of cooperation and reconciliation, including the situation in North Kosovo," the Resolution 1839 dubbed “The political situation in the Balkans” reads.

"Everything must be done to ensure that North Kosovo does not remain a black hole in the Western Balkans outside the control of the authorities in both Priština and Belgrade," it is said in the resolution published on PACE website.

PACE "deeply regrets the most recent acts of violence involving KFOR" and demands an urgent and objective investigation into the incident at Jarinje "when six individuals were shot."

"PACE calls on the people in northern Kosovo to act with restraint and to cooperate without delay and in a constructive manner with the KFOR and the European Union Rule of Law mission in Kosovo (EULEX), and on the authorities in Priština to respond positively and sensitively to any legitimate concerns of the minorities in the region," the resolution reads.

PACE assessed that violent clashes in northern Kosovo on the administrative checkpoints with Serbia were blocking progress in the EU-mediated talks between Priština and Belgrade.

PACE has also called on the Council of Europe member states to urge the authorities in Belgrade and Priština to seek a peaceful solution to the northern Kosovo issue. PACE also called on its Presidential Committee to consider a mission in the region to intensify the dialogue and overcome the tensions.

The Assembly pointed out that "the priorities of the regional and international actors in the region must remain security, stability, respect for human rights, in full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244."