TIRANA, April 24 – The Council of Europe voted on Monday to send Kosovo’s application for membership to the organization’s Parliamentary Assembly.
“With 33 votes in favour, 7 against and 5 abstentions, CoE Committee of Ministers accepted Kosovo’s membership application and initiated the accession process by requesting PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) to prepare an opinion on membership,” Kosovo ambassador in Brussels, Agon Bajrami, wrote on Twitter.
The Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Donika Gërvalla, said that an important stage towards full membership is completed after this decision. “For our new state, today’s decision is a historic step, perhaps the most important after our independence,” Gërvalla wrote on Facebook quoted by Kosovo media.
Almost a year ago, on May 12, 2022, Kosovo submitted its application for membership to the Council of Europe.
PM Albin Kurti said that Kosovo will be an added value to the Council of Europe.
“The Council of Europe will add value to democracy, human rights and the rule of law in our country,” Kurti wrote on Facebook.
After this decision, the President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani thanked the allies who voted in favor of Kosovo.
“The Republic of Kosovo’s flag will soon wave proudly amongst fellow members of the Council of Europe,” wrote Osmani on Twitter.
Meanwhile, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, declared in Belgrade that his country will vote against Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe.
Kosovo is the only European country that is still not part of the Council of Europe. /Argumentum.al
