Serbia opposed to Kosovo Joining Council of Europe

NEWS 18.05.201813:54
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Serbia is determined to oppose any attempt to bring Kosovo into the Council of Europe (CoE), Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told Friday’s session of the CoE Council of Ministers in the Danish town of Elsinore.

Denmark handed over the chair of the Council of Ministers to Croatia at the session.

“Serbia supports CoE engagement in Kosovo, with full respect for UN Security Council resolution 1244 and a status neutral approach, with the aim of improving human rights, democracy and the rule of law,” Dacic said, adding that Serbia is fully committed to upholding minority rights which it feels is of great importance.

Serbia has blocked or tried to block Kosovo’s membership in a number of international organizations, including Interpol and the UN.

“We expect the rights of the Serb national minority in neighbouring countries to be fully respected,” he said. “Serbia also attaches great importance to protecting and promoting freedom of expression and of the media, as well as freedom of association,” the Foreign Minister told the meeting participants.

Dacic said Serbia has implemented a number of measures to meet the recommendations of the CoE anti-corruption watchdog GRECO.