Balkans | Serbian Foreign Minister Dacic’s reaction to the country’s abstention in Kosovo

Serbia’s foreign minister, Ivica Dacic, said they would change their attitude towards countries that abstained from the vote in which the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe approved Kosovo’s membership application.

Dacic commented on the vote in which the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe approved Kosovo’s membership request, in a television program he attended in the capital, Belgrade.

Defending that Kosovo “is not a state, in which case it cannot be a member of the Council of Europe”, Dacic thanked “close friend” Hungary, which had recognized Kosovo but voted against it in the vote.

Stating that he was surprised by the position of Ukraine, which abstained, Dacic said, “We have always supported Ukraine’s territorial integrity despite the oppression, and we strongly condemn the measures taken against it. On the other hand, they abstain when it comes to our territorial integrity.” He said.

All this will affect our position in the coming period, Ivica Dacic said. For example, Montenegro can abstain from voting and show some respect for our problems. Montenegro supported Kosovo’s request. They will also need our vote, but they should no longer expect a positive approach from us. “. He said.

Expressing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s abstention, Dacic said: “I do not have a single statement that I do not defend the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. But from now on, I will also abstain when asked about the vote. Why should we defend the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which You abstained from us?” He appraised.

Dacic criticized Greece and Slovakia, which abstained, and said: “Greece said at the beginning that it does not recognize Kosovo. Territorial integrity is at stake here.” He said.

Kosovo’s application for membership in the Council of Europe

Yesterday, the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora announced that the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has approved Kosovo’s application for Council membership and referred it to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Spain, Serbia, Romania, Georgia, the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus, Hungary and Azerbaijan voted against Kosovo’s application for membership of the Council of Europe.

Greece, Slovakia, Moldova, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina abstained, while Germany, Andorra, Albania, Austria, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Croatia, the Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland and Italy abstained. The application was supported by Sweden, Switzerland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Turkey.

Armenia did not participate in the vote.

Relations between Serbia and Kosovo

Although Kosovo is recognized as an independent country by 117 countries, it is described as one of Europe’s “frozen conflict zones” due to persistent ethnic tensions in its north and its inability to become a member of the United Nations.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, to be its territory.

Serbia and Kosovo, which clash periodically, are trying to find a common way to normalize relations, and eventually for the two countries to recognize each other, within the framework of the dialogue process between Belgrade and Pristina, which began in 2011 with mediation. from the European Union (EU).

AA