Bakoyannis: The protection of Serbian and other minorities in Kosovo will improve if Kosovo becomes a CoE member

“The protection of Serbian and other minorities will improve if Kosovo becomes a member of the Council of Europe,“ said Dora Bakoyannis, the rapporteur for Kosovo in the Council of Europe. She added that her report does not reflect any views on statehood, nor does it take any stance on this issue: „There is a strict split of responsibilities between the bodies of the Council of Europe. In other words, it is not up to me to say whether Kosovo is a state or not.“

A meeting of Council of Europe ministers is scheduled for March 27, at which a vote could be taken on the report of the rapporteur for Kosovo on Kosovo’s possible membership in the organization.

In an interview for N1 today, Bakoyannis says that she is still unsure whether this will come to be because „there are a number of prerequisites that must be met until that report is ready.“

However, she emphasized:

„I will recommend supervision for Kosovo by the Council of Europe. A post-monitoring process will follow, which can begin if the Council of Ministers continues with its vote because they are the ones responsible for decision-making.“

It is a process in which members of the political committee monitor each step that must be implemented.

„Pristina must agree to implement those steps in the coming months and years. This occurs with all countries because no country is perfect, unfortunately, so all the countries in our assembly have problems with implementation in relation to human rights this is something that we monitor in all countries and it will be monitored in Kosovo, in case the committee of ministers decides to accept Kosovo into the Council of Europe.“

Ahead of this session, 24 hectares of Visoki Dečani land was returned to the monastery after eight years of refusal to implement the decision of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo despite persistent international reminders and pressures.

Bakoyannis also addressed this, describing the implementation of the decision of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo as a great success in the region, but also the most important step for the protection of the Serbian Orthodox Church so far.

„This shows a clear sign that there is an intention of the authorities in Pristina to adhere to the rule of law and to initiate the necessary reforms for the safe status of the Serbian minority,“ Bakoyannis added.

In the past few months, she says, she spoke to all interested parties – from Kosovo politicians, to Serbian mayors, the Diocese of Raska and Prizren, Serbian NGOs, and EU ministers.

She specified that she did her job honestly and consistently and that she did not allow for any pressure, as a result of which she was able to present a detailed description of the situation in Kosovo to the CoE ministerial committee.

Moreover, she claims that she managed to build bridges of trust, which „enabled the success of returning the land to Visoki Dečani after 25 years.“

„It’s not just about the 24ha that the monastery got, but a symbol and a gesture for all Orthodox Christians in the Balkans. I am an Orthodox woman myself and you understand how important it is for that civilization to be protected and today it was protected after 25 years and after that decision that was made in Pristina.“

„Of course, I’m not naive. I know and am fully aware that there is even a list of serious unresolved cases related to democracy and the rule of law in Kosovo, as well as the strong resistance of Pristina on various matters. The Council of Europe knows this very well, but the fact that in five months we managed to solve an issue that dragged on for 25 years is a great achievement and it will be included in my report.“

When asked about the additional conditions that were mentioned recently regarding the possibility of Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe, such as the request to form the ASM, and the matter of the expropriation of land in the north for the purposes of construction of police bases, Bakoyannis replied that her report will contain all concerns and reservations when it comes to the position of Serbs and other non-minority communities in Kosovo.

„All those concerns regarding the democratic status, the situation of the Serbian minority, the problems we faced, all of that will be mentioned in detail in the report I mentioned,“ she pointed out.

Everything I mentioned will be written down and hopefully, the report will address certain concerns. Once it is voted on, then it will go to the Parliamentary Assembly for another vote

She emphasized that her report will present the current situation in Kosovo to colleagues in the Council of Europe – on human and religious rights, the progress achieved, about the difference between the implementation and the actual adoption of the law.

„All this will be mentioned in the report and if the report is approved, then we will enter the post-monitoring process which can start after the decision of the committee of ministers is made.“

The protection of Serbian and other minorities in Kosovo to improve if Kosovo becomes a member of the Council of Europe

Bakoyannis revealed that she feels honored to be selected by her colleagues as the rapporteur of the Council of Europe for Kosovo, despite the fact that Greece did not recognize Kosovo, describing this as a sign of trust that she will do her job responsibly.

She explained that there is a strict split of responsibilities between CoE bodies:

„In other words, it is not up to me to say whether Kosovo is a state or not.“

„I am Greek. I followed this whole issue from the first moment and day. So, the prime minister came to Serbia to try to solve various problems and I know how difficult and complex the situation is. A lot of blood was spilled in the region. The wounds are still open. It is very difficult to unite and bring together nations and people to the extent that it is possible for them to live together and have their rights. I know how difficult it is.“

She noted that Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe would improve the situation among the Serbian community and all other minorities in Kosovo and give them the right to turn to the European Court of Human Rights – adding that the decisions of that court are applied to everyone.

„In the event that Kosovo becomes a member of the Council of Europe, this court has the right to impose its decisions, and then the minorities in this case are better protected. Therefore, the protection of Serbian and other minorities in Kosovo will be improved if Kosovo becomes a member of the Council of Europe. That is the main reason why many countries want to become members of the Council of Europe,“ she specified.

Finally, she expressed hope that the Serbian community in Kosovo will show understanding of this, especially following the successful result when it comes to the land of the Visoki Dečani monastery.

„The (decision on) land of the monastery, a Serbian church, was extremely encouraging because now we know that it is possible to achieve some results. Politicians talk, but there must be results. What Father Sava said is also extremely important, that he has a document from the cadastre in his hands. That is very important,“ Bakoyannis emphasized.