• Kosovo passes first step to Council of Europe membership (BIRN)
• Palokaj: If no obstacles, Kosovo can join CoE early next year (KTV)
• Legitimacy of local elections in question after low turnout (Prishtina Insight)
• Von Cramon’s statement on local elections in north of Kosovo (media)
• UK Ambassador comments on the local elections in the north (media)
• KFOR calls for refrain from escalating rhetoric after elections in north (RFE)
• Osmani: Serbia committed two violations of agreement less than 24 hrs (media)
• Kurti: I am ready for May 2 meeting in Brussels (media)
• Limaj: Albin Kurti should give up on north of Kosovo (media)
• Serbian leader lashes out at the West over Kosovo vote (Associated Press)
• Szunyog: No room for attacks on religious sites in multicultural Kosovo (media)

Kosovo passes first step to Council of Europe membership (BIRN)

The Council of Europe voted on Monday to send Kosovo’s application for membership to the organization’s Parliamentary Assembly.

“With 33 votes in favour, 7 against and 5 abstentions, CoE Committee of Ministers accepted Kosovo’s membership application and initiated the accession process by requesting PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) to prepare an opinion on membership,” Kosovo ambassador in Brussels, Agon Bajrami, wrote on Twitter.

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Donika Gervalla, described the decision as a “historic step, maybe the most important since our independence,” noting that over two-thirds of the ministers decided to forward Kosovo’s application to the assembly.

“A lot of work remains to be done. The membership process is long and full of challenges. But at the end of the process, the Republic of Kosovo will take its rightful place as a member of the Council of Europe,” Gervalla wrote on Facebook on Monday.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani on Twitter said that Kosovo’s “flag will soon wave proudly amongst fellow members of the CoE”.

Kosovo applied to join the CoE on May 12, 2022. The decision was taken after, on March 16, 2022, Russia was expelled from the Council due to its invasion of Ukraine. This provided an opportunity for Kosovo to join as, without Russia, two-thirds of the member states recognize Kosovo, the required for approval of membership.

The CoE, the main human rights organization in Europe, has 46 member states, including all European Union states.

Two-thirds of the votes are needed for a new country to join. All members of the CoE have signed the European Convention on Human Rights whose implementation is overseed by the European Court of Human Rights, located in Strasbourg. Kosovo has the convention included in its Constitution, nonetheless, its citizens cannot send complaints to the European Court of Human Rights.

Serbia, which does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, voted against Kosovo’s membership.

Palokaj: If no obstacles, Kosovo can join CoE early next year (KTV)

Brussels-based correspondent, Augustin Palokaj, said in an interview with the TV station on Monday that Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe is linked to the process of dialogue with Serbia. He argued that the best proof of this is the delay of Kosovo’s membership application for around a year.

“If there is political readiness and everything goes to plan, the report which will be prepared could be discussed in June or during the fall session in October,” he said.

“Everything can be concluded this year so that following a decision by the Committee of Ministers, Kosovo can become a member of this organisation. Today it was made clear that this will depend on Kosovo’s readiness and its success in meeting the obligations deriving from the dialogue, including the formation of the Association of the Serb-majority municipalities. Chances are that if something unexpected doesn’t happen, Kosovo could become a member of the Council of Europe this year or early next year,” Palokaj argued.

Legitimacy of local elections in question after low turnout (Prishtina Insight)

The mass boycott of extraordinary elections in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo raises questions about their legitimacy.

Sunday’s extraordinary elections in the four northern Serb-majority municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic were marred by a boycott by the main Serbian party, Lista Srpska, and by the Serbian community.

The turnout was just over 3 per cent.

As a result, there are concerns over the legitimacy of these elections and whether the elected majors will be accepted by the local community.

After the withdrawal of Serbian List, the largest party of the Serbian minority, ten candidates remained in the race, only one of whom was from the Serbian community.

The vice-president of Serbian List, Milan Radojicic, told the media on Sunday that Serbian citizens in Kosovo “will never allow” municipalities with a Serbian majority in the north to be led by those who won “1 or 2 per cent of the votes” in elections.

Preliminary results show the ruling Vetëvendosje Movement won in North Mitrovica and Leposavic while the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, took Zubin Potok and Zvecan.

BIRN reported directly from the four municipalities on Sunday and asked local Serbs about their opinions on the polls, but neither those who voted nor those who did not would speak to the media.

Serbia’s President, Aleksandar Vucic, praised the boycott by Kosovo Serbs, calling it “a peaceful political uprising” against their “occupiers”, Associated Press reported on Monday. Serbs are claiming harassment by Prishtina authorities and are demanding autonomy for their regions, Associated Press cited Vucic as saying.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3Ncosxp

Von Cramon’s statement on local elections in north of Kosovo (media)

European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Kosovo, Viola von Cramon, said on Monday that the four mayoral elections and two municipal assembly elections that took place in the north of Kosovo on Sunday were in line with Kosovo’s legal framework. “However, I deeply regret that the main political force in the north of Kosovo, the Serbian List, has rejected to take part in these elections and strongly condemn the intimidation of all those who wanted to run for the office or vote on Sunday,” she said.

Von Cramon argued that “the boycott, which was orchestrated from the Serbian government in Belgrade, as well as the intimidation of opposition Serb political leaders, are unacceptable and go against democratic standards. The rhetoric coming from the highest instances in Serbia towards Kosovo officials is deplorable and must stop”.

“The current institutional and security vacuum must be resolved by engaging with the local community across the north of Kosovo. The permanent return of Kosovo Serbs in the institutions should be facilitated now and the Government of Kosovo must enable this return. The work on the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities needs to be finalized as soon as possible.”

“The EU will work closely with all relevant parties to re-establish security and normal life of all citizens in these municipalities. The work of EULEX, KFOR and KP mut thus proved to be indispensable and I warmly congratulate for their commitment,” Von Cramon concludes in her statement.

UK Ambassador comments on the local elections in the north (media)

UK Ambassador to Kosovo Nicholas Abbott said on Monday that he welcomes that “the elections in the northern municipalities yesterday took place safely and without major incident. I would like to pay tribute to election officials and to Kosovo Police for making this possible. I regret the lack of participation of Kosovo Serb political parties and choice for Kosovo Serbs in the election process. Reports of pressure and threats in certain cases to not participate are deeply concerning. I look forward to progress in implementing the agreement reached in Ohrid last month in the interests of all the citizens of 🇽🇰northern municipalities.”

KFOR calls for refrain from escalating rhetoric after elections in north (RFE)

NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, called on Monday to avoid “escalating actions and rhetoric” between Kosovo and Serbia. The mission said that there were no incidents during Sunday’s elections in the four Serb-majority municipalities in the north. “All the time, KFOR was in close contact with all stakeholders and has monitored the situation on the ground. The normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is crucial for sustainable security in all of Kosovo and stability in the Western Balkan region,” the statement notes.

Osmani: Serbia committed two violations of agreement in less than 24 hrs (media)

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani took to Twitter on Monday evening to say that “in less than 24 hours, Serbia has committed two violations of the Brussels/Ohrid Agreement. 1. Foreign interference in Kosovo elections (in violation of article 2) 2. Lobbying and voting against Kosovo Council of Europe application (in violation of article 4) New agreement, but same old Serbia.”

Kurti: I am ready for May 2 meeting in Brussels (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Monday that he is ready for the upcoming high-level meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on May 2 in Brussels. “I am always ready for high-level meetings that are organised with the facilitation of the European Union. The next meeting will be held in Brussels as usual, and there will be discussions on how to implement fully and without delays the Brussels agreement and the implementation annex from Ohrid,” Kurti told reporters in Pristina.

Limaj: Albin Kurti should give up on north of Kosovo (media)

NISMA leader Fatmir Limaj said on Kanal 10 on Monday evening that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti should give up on the north of Kosovo after Sunday’s local snap elections there which were boycotted by the Serb community. Limaj argued that the Kosovo government should have resolved the political crisis caused by the resignation of Serbs from institutions, and not organise elections knowing what their outcome will be.

“The Kosovo Serbs were always orchestrated by Belgrade, and in many cases and through our actions we have made this possible for Belgrade. The citizens are caught in a crossfire. The grave situation for them continues and the agendas of these people have won. This is the best way for Kurti to give up on the northern part of Kosovo,” he said.

According to Limaj, Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will continue their political agendas and will still deceive people living in the north. “The citizen of Kosovo and democracy have lost. The chance for integration and coexistence has been lost. Kurti, and Vucic I believe, have won and they will continue their political agendas, they will maintain the tension and deceive both sides … In Belgrade, Vucic announced the triumph of Serbian unity, while here Kurti announced the victory of state and democracy,” Limaj added.

Serbian leader lashes out at the West over Kosovo vote (Associated Press)

The Serbian president on Monday sharply criticized Western officials who are mediating talks on normalizing ties with Kosovo, calling them liars and frauds, and said the Serb minority in the former Serbian province will no longer tolerate foreign “occupation.”

Aleksandar Vucic spoke a day after local elections in Serb-dominated northern Kosovo that were overwhelmingly boycotted by the Serb voters there. As a result, ethnic Albanians were elected.

Tensions in the Western Balkans, which went through a bloody war in the 1990s, have soared since the Russian aggression on Ukraine.

Vucic praised the vote boycott by the Kosovo Serbs, saying it represented “a peaceful political uprising” against their “occupiers.” Serbs are claiming harassment by Pristina authorities and demand autonomy for their region.

“Our people in Kosovo have shown in which country they want to live,” said Vucic, a populist leader known for his frequent anti-Western outbursts. He is apparently angry at the European Union and the U.S. for allowing Pristina to hold the vote when the Serb boycott, called by Belgrade, was expected.

The EU said on Monday that the elections were held in line with the legal framework of Kosovo and that efforts were undertaken for them to take place in a smooth and orderly manner.

“At the same time, the EU regrets that not all parties and communities made use of their democratic right to participate and vote in the elections,” the EU statement said. “The very low turnout, in particular among Kosovo Serb citizens, shows that this process is not and cannot be considered business as usual.”

The Kosovo government hailed “citizens for their courage and calmness” while taking part in the vote. It said the election was “a manifestation of democracy.”

“The threatening campaign orchestrated by Belgrade and executed through intimidation, pressure and blackmail by criminal groups ... led to a low turnout of citizens in the elections,” Prime Minister Albin Kurti said.

Szunyog: No room for attacks on religious sites in multicultural Kosovo (media)

EU Head of Office, Tomas Szunyog, visited Prizren on Monday, including the Orthodox Seminary of St. Cyril and Methodius, restored with the EU’s assistance and the Church of St. Panteleimon. Szunyog welcomed the swift reaction of Kosovo Police in identifying individuals who recently set on fire the doors of the Church. “There is no room for attacks on religious sites in the multi-cultural Kosovo. We must all preserve religious freedom, in a safe and secure environment, and continue to promote inter-community dialogue in Kosovo,” he tweeted.