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Paris, Berlin and Rome insist on Lajcak's draft statute

2024-05-16 19:41:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

France, Germany and Italy have insisted in a letter sent to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, that they support the draft statute proposed by the special envoy of the European Union for the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, Miroslav Lajçak, for the establishment of an Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority.

A week ago, Kurti addressed the leaders of these three countries with a letter, explaining why the Government of Kosovo cannot send the draft statute to the Constitutional Court and proposed to write a new one with the current mayors of the municipalities in majority Serbian.

Although Kurti received an answer on Wednesday about this, the Government addressed these countries again on Wednesday with a new letter on this issue.

In the joint letter of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on May 15 - seen by Radio Free Europe - it is stated that the draft statute presented by Lajcak is not simply "a proposal gentlemen".

"It is a sustainable model, carefully compiled with the help of European legislators and experts, in accordance with the best existing practices in Europe. It fully takes into account all your red lines, as well as the legal framework and the Constitution of Kosovo. As such, he enjoys our full support. We emphasize again that we do not want a dysfunctional Kosovo, and the Association is in no way comparable to the Republika Srpska," the letter states.

Kurti, in his letter addressed to them, had left open an opportunity to review Lajcak's draft statute, but only after it had first been reviewed by the legal experts of the Council of Europe.

"I, too, would be open to the option that the draft statute of Lajcak be presented by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for review by eminent jurists appointed by the secretariat and the bureau of the Council of Europe, to assess the compatibility with obligations of Kosovo, according to the Council of Europe. I undertake that I will respect the findings of eminent jurists with the greatest respect", wrote Kurti.

But Macron, Scholz and Meloni said that submitting the draft statute to the Council of Europe experts "would not constitute a necessary decisive step, as their opinion would not be legally binding", insisting that Kurti send it in the Constitutional Court of Kosovo. "This can only be achieved by sending it to the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, in a way that is acceptable to the Court. As has been clarified with Brussels, there are no legal obstacles in the dialogue mediated by the EU to take this step," the leaders' letter continues.

The leaders also rejected a proposal by Kurt to draw up a new draft statute for the Association.

"Your proposal to compile a new draft in consultation with the current mayors of the municipalities, or with the vice mayors, is neither suitable nor applicable, due to the current circumstances in these municipalities", they said.

The four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of the country are led by Albanian mayors who came to power last year in local elections that were boycotted by Serb parties and citizens there, and after Serb citizens did not participate in a vote last month to leave theirs through petition.

Kurti had previously said that he would not accept the Association as a condition for membership in the Council of Europe.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has voted for the admission of Kosovo on April 16 and the final decision has passed to the Committee of Ministers, which meets on May 16 and 17.

Kosovo is not expected to be on the agenda of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on May 17, where it would be possible to vote for its admission to this organization.

Kurti was warned by Macron, Scholz and Meloni that his actions and attitudes "at this crucial moment will be decisive" for Kosovo's intentions to join the Council of Europe.

"The ball is now in your court. We sincerely count on your leadership".

"Prime Minister, let us be clear: There is a great risk that, without decisive progress towards the Association, Kosovo's application for membership in the Council of Europe will not receive sufficient support from the member states. Moving forward on the path suggested by QUINT would demonstrate your commitment to minority rights, and thus strengthen Kosovo's position and revive the EU-mediated dialogue. This is the only way to ensure success in your application", they said./ Rel