Serbia’s representative slammed Greece’s rapporteur at the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe (CoE) for recommending that Kosovo be admitted to the European human rights body.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) overwhelmingly passed a report recommending membership for Kosovo based on a report by former Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis.
Serbia has strongly campaigned against membership for Kosovo, claiming that admitting the Balkan country would rubber stamp claims of human rights violations against Serbs and be considered a step towards recognizing its sovereignty.
Serbian representative Biljana Pantić Pilja called rapporteur Bakoyannis a “hypocrite,” adding, that Serbia was “a small nation but will never surrender – Zivela Srbija.”
The report by Bakoyannis said Kosovo is “broadly in line with the Council of Europe standards and that its Constitution is a very progressive instrument” aligned with various international conventions and human rights charters.
It also noted that “membership would strengthen human rights standards by ensuring access to the European Court of Human Rights for all those under Kosovo’s jurisdiction.”
The final membership decision now lies with the CoE’s Committee of Ministers, the organization’s executive body, which will meet in May. For Pristina’s membership to be approved, a two-thirds majority is required.
“Since 1951, the Committee of Ministers has not taken a decision different from the Opinion of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; we believe that the next phase will also be completed successfully,” Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti said after the vote.
“With Kosovo there, the Council of Europe gains a new and vibrant democracy, where the law rules and human rights are respected. Thanks to everyone. Congratulations to everyone,” Kurti said.
Serbia and Greece do not recognize Kosovo
Serbia and Greece do not recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Kosovo holds deep significance for Serbia. It contains many Serbian Orthodox Christian monasteries and is considered the cradle of Serbian civilization. The 1389 Battle of Kosovo, a defining moment in Serbian national identity, was fought there.
Kosovo’s population is predominantly Albanian, while Serbs are a minority. The bloody conflicts of the 1990s, fueled by ethnic tensions, still cast a shadow. Serbia views Kosovo as its rightful territory and fears an independent Kosovo could mistreat the Serbian minority.
Greece has historically emphasized the importance of respecting the territorial integrity of existing states. They worry that recognizing Kosovo could set a precedent that could be used to justify separatist movements within Greece itself.
Greece has close cultural and religious ties to Serbia, and they don’t want to take any actions that could be seen as undermining Serbia’s sovereignty.
Despite not recognizing Kosovo, Greece does maintain a constructive relationship with them. For instance, Greece supported the recent visa liberalization for Kosovo passport holders and participates in EU missions in Kosovo.
Related: Serbia President’s Alarming Message of Upcoming Balkan Conflict
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
