Preserving and protecting territorial integrity, EU integration, and better cooperation with countries around the world are Serbia's main foreign policy goals. First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said this on Wednesday in Belgrade, and pointed out that Serbia has strengthened its position on the international scene.

During the meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini talked about problems in the Belgrade - Pristina dialogue, tariffs on Serbian goods posed by Pristina's authorities and the transformation of the Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) and of which they said were not welcomed, learns Belgrade based news agency Tanjug in the Council.

Kosovo will submit a request for membership in the Council of Europe (CoE) "during this month, at the latest in January," Beta news agency reported.

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj announced this.

Citing the website Lajmi, the agency reported that Hoxhaj said that if the request were submitted now, Kosovo could join the CoE "within two years."

He added that during that period, this institution "will mainly be chaired by countries that recognized Kosovo's independence."

Several news websites report that Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj met in Strasbourg with Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and discussed the further advancement of relations. Hoxhaj briefed Jagland on political developments in Kosovo, the need for more substantial relations between Kosovo and the Council of Europe and other issues. Hoxhaj said after the meeting that he is optimistic for the start of a new period of cooperation.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, Enver Hoxhaj, hosted today a meeting with the recently appointed head of the Office of the Council of Europe in Pristina, Isabelle Galluci. Hoxha valued highly the constructive approach of the Office of the CoE in Pristina on significant projects and its assistance offered to Kosovo.  “Kosovo is interested to develop relations and benefit from  the Council of Europe expertize in order to improve its governing and respect the human rights in Kosovo,” Hoxhaj said.

Despite the fact that Kosovo is not a member of the Council of Europe, the delegation of the Assembly of Kosovo will participate in future Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) activity, with the right to speak but not to vote.

From 25 to 29 January, lawmakers of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will present their reports and adopt resolutions on the most immediate international issues, reports the media.

International terrorism

 The Council of Europe in cooperation with the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, organized an international conference in Pristina on the “Interpretation and implementation of the European Convention for human rights by the Constitutional Courts in Western Balkans.” In addition to the judges of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, those of the Constitutional Courts of Croatia, Albania and Montenegro also participated in the conference, whilst Serbian representatives failed to attend.

In an interview for TV Dukagjini, Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Petrit Selimi said Kosovo’s biggest battle at this point is membership of the UNESCO. Selimi said Kosovo will need 2/3 of votes at the UNESCO General Assembly, which means that even countries that have not recognized Kosovo’s independence would have to vote in favor. He added that Serbia was waging an aggressive and negative against Kosovo and that it is comparing the 2004 riots in Kosovo with ISIS. Selimi said that the eventual non-admission in the UNESCO would be disappointing for Kosovo, but not a failure.

Kosovo Assembly President, Kadri Veseli, met today in Pristina with the Council of Europe’s Rapporteur for Kosovo, Agustin Conde. Veseli informed Conde about the developments in the Assembly and Kosovo’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law, transparency and parliamentarian democracy. “The Republic of Kosovo has proved it is a country of stability and peace, which respects the rights of communities and in this respect it is a model for countries of the region and beyond.