It has been close to twenty years since the killings, kidnappings and disappearances of 14 Serbian and Albanian journalists in Kosovo.

These crimes happened between 1998 and 200, and no one has been brought to justice, the Council of Europe (CoE) has stated on its website.

By Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights

Every 11 July since 1995, thousands of people gather in Potočari to commemorate the Srebrenica genocide, the most horrific crime committed in Europe since WWII. Survivors and victims’ families demand justice, recognition and respect.

Ivica Dacic has told a Council of Europe (CoE) meeting in Elsinore, Denmark that his country would stand up and against any attempt to make Kosovo its member.

Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland said that the council previously expressed concern over the arrest of Marko Djuric in Mitrovica late last month, adding that the Council of Europe follows the further development of the situation, KIM radio reports.

Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muiznieks says that the reconciliation process in the Western Balkans has stalled.

In his latest Human Rights Comment, Muiznieks also noted that ethnic divisions and polarization have been growing in the region.

"These relate in particular to denial of genocide, glorification of war criminals and attempts to rehabilitate persons involved in crimes committed during the 1990s’ wars," the CoE cited him on its website, adding:

A delegation of Serbia’s National Assembly on Thursday left a session of the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, held in Strasbourg, France, in protest.

The move was prompted by the decision of a French court earlier in the day to reject Serbia’s request to extradite Ramush Haradinaj.

According to a statement, the Serbian delegation “condemned the disgraceful decision of the French court.”

Head of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Ismet Beqiri, posted a picture on his Facebook account with the president of European People’s Party, Joseph Daul, taken at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Under the caption, Beqiri wrote that Kosovo Assembly also opened an office today at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks says that eighteen years after the end of the conflict, thousands of people are still denied justice in Kosovo. He states that it is high time to change course and to build a just and cohesive society.

Pristina has not applied for membership in the Council of Europe, said head of the permanent delegation of the Serbian Parliament in the Assembly of the Council of Europe Aleksandra Đurović.

Đurović suspects they will bring this decision and said that Pristina authorities have been announcing this for two years.

Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi announced on Sunday that Pristina would once again apply for the membership in UNESCO and the Council of Europe.