No CoE membership for Kosovo, official says

Council of Europe (CoE) Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland says majority of CoE members have recognized Kosovo but that membership has not been discussed yet. “What is important for us is for the joint programs with the EU in Kosovo to continue, because these cover the protection of cultural heritage and Serbian Orthodox churches,” Jagland told daily Vecernje novosti. No CoE membership for Kosovo, official says He added that the programs were important in building mutual trust. “We act in keeping with Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council, and now Belgrade and Pristina also have an agreement on regional cooperation,” Jagland said and added that the decision regarding the matter had not been adopted yet but the general approach here was that pragmatic solutions needed to be found. Commenting on the fact that Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha recently accused Rapporteur Dick Marty of plagiarism concerning the report on human organ trafficking, which constitutes an accusation against the entire Parliamentary Assembly, Jagland said that the report existed and that the investigation was being conducted on the basis of it. “The only stand I have on this issue is that the investigation needs to continue, and the only way to carry out the investigation is under the EU auspices and EULEX,” Jagland noted and underscored that he did not see another method that could be implemented here. He noted that he had followed the statements made by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic as regards Serbia's European path. “I realized that he would continue acting on the same line as the previous president and former government both when it comes to the EU and CoE,” Jagland noted and added that this was the reason why he believed the successful cooperation would continue. “The fact that Nikolic served as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly entails that he knows how the CoE functions, and what the obligations and the benefits of the membership are, “ Jagland explained and added that this was very positive for the relations. Thorbjorn Jagland (Tanjug, file) Tanjug Vecernje novosti

No CoE membership for Kosovo, official says

He added that the programs were important in building mutual trust.

“We act in keeping with Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council, and now Belgrade and Priština also have an agreement on regional cooperation,” Jagland said and added that the decision regarding the matter had not been adopted yet but the general approach here was that pragmatic solutions needed to be found.

Commenting on the fact that Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha recently accused Rapporteur Dick Marty of plagiarism concerning the report on human organ trafficking, which constitutes an accusation against the entire Parliamentary Assembly, Jagland said that the report existed and that the investigation was being conducted on the basis of it.

“The only stand I have on this issue is that the investigation needs to continue, and the only way to carry out the investigation is under the EU auspices and EULEX,” Jagland noted and underscored that he did not see another method that could be implemented here.

He noted that he had followed the statements made by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić as regards Serbia's European path.

“I realized that he would continue acting on the same line as the previous president and former government both when it comes to the EU and CoE,” Jagland noted and added that this was the reason why he believed the successful cooperation would continue.

“The fact that Nikolić served as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly entails that he knows how the CoE functions, and what the obligations and the benefits of the membership are, “ Jagland explained and added that this was very positive for the relations.