EP rejects proposal to represent Kosovo with footnote

The European Parliament (EP) on Thursday rejected a proposal to mention Kosovo with a footnote in the EP documents. The Parliament also adopted a resolution on Kosovo’s progress which, just like several previous resolutions, requests that Kosovo be provided a clear European perspective. EP rejects proposal to represent Kosovo with footnote The EP rejected an amendment to put an asterisk with references to the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) next to Kosovo’s name in the EP documents, in accordance with the Agreement on Regional Representation which was reached between Belgrade and Pristina. The EP also called on the International Olympic Committee to allow Kosovo to compete in the Olympics in London this summer. Chances of that happening are, however, slim bearing in mind that the competition schedule has already been made and the EP has no jurisdiction over the International Olympic Committee. Olympic Committee of Serbia (OKS) President Vlade Divac told B92 that athletes from Kosovo could only compete in the Olympics as OKS members. “Athletes from Kosovo and Metohija can take part in the London Olympic Games only as part of the OKS. The stand of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is well-known, there is a charter, there are clear regulations which have been brought before, and it is known that Kosovo cannot participate in the Olympics independently,“ Divac told journalists. The legendary Serbian basketballer stressed that Kosovo's participation in the Olympic Games is a political issue which should be addressed by the state, and not the OKS or IOC. “These are things for politicians, and not for sportspeople. The rulebook is clear and unequivocal, Kosovo is a part of Serbia, and they can take part in the 2012 London Olympics only under the Serbian flag,” Divac said. A vast majority of MEPs support the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence, said reports, "and it is therefore no surprise that today’s resolution resembles previous ones". Aside from the support to the Kosovo authorities in the EU integration process, the resolution also contains a series of remarks condemning flourishing of organized crime, corruption and lack of the rule of law in Kosovo. At same time, the resolution urges the Pristina authorities to draft a comprehensive plan for northern Kosovo, which has already been requested several times by the European Commission (EC). The EP earlier on Thursday adopted a resolution on Serbia’s progress in the EU integration process. The European Parliament (FoNet) Tanjug

EP rejects proposal to represent Kosovo with footnote

The EP rejected an amendment to put an asterisk with references to the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) next to Kosovo’s name in the EP documents, in accordance with the Agreement on Regional Representation which was reached between Belgrade and Priština.

The EP also called on the International Olympic Committee to allow Kosovo to compete in the Olympics in London this summer.

Chances of that happening are, however, slim bearing in mind that the competition schedule has already been made and the EP has no jurisdiction over the International Olympic Committee.

Olympic Committee of Serbia (OKS) President Vlade Divac told B92 that athletes from Kosovo could only compete in the Olympics as OKS members.

“Athletes from Kosovo and Metohija can take part in the London Olympic Games only as part of the OKS. The stand of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is well-known, there is a charter, there are clear regulations which have been brought before, and it is known that Kosovo cannot participate in the Olympics independently,“ Divac told journalists.

The legendary Serbian basketballer stressed that Kosovo's participation in the Olympic Games is a political issue which should be addressed by the state, and not the OKS or IOC.

“These are things for politicians, and not for sportspeople. The rulebook is clear and unequivocal, Kosovo is a part of Serbia, and they can take part in the 2012 London Olympics only under the Serbian flag,” Divac said.

A vast majority of MEPs support the Kosovo Albanian unilateral declaration of independence, said reports, "and it is therefore no surprise that today’s resolution resembles previous ones".

Aside from the support to the Kosovo authorities in the EU integration process, the resolution also contains a series of remarks condemning flourishing of organized crime, corruption and lack of the rule of law in Kosovo. At same time, the resolution urges the Priština authorities to draft a comprehensive plan for northern Kosovo, which has already been requested several times by the European Commission (EC).

The EP earlier on Thursday adopted a resolution on Serbia’s progress in the EU integration process.