Lancaster: Allies to consult to advance Kosovo's status in NATO

2024-05-25 19:29:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Lord Mark Lancaster has sought the consensus of NATO allies for expansion, saying that they should be consulted to advance Kosovo's status in this organization.

"Allies should use consultative frameworks to advance the issue related to the status of Kosovo. Those who do not know the status of Kosovo, can consider Kosovo's participation in NATO and the Partnership for Peace", he said during the Parliamentary Assembly of the alliance as he presented the draft report where Kosovo is mentioned.

During the Assembly, which is being held in Sofia, the Assembly of Kosovo intends to advance its status from observer to associate member of this organization.

The Kosovo authorities announced in March that the Permanent Commission of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has advanced the status of the Assembly of Kosovo in this body.

Presenting the draft report, Lancaster also mentioned the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. He said that NATO allies, but also the European Union as a mediator, should continue to put pressure on Kosovo and Serbia to unblock the dialogue process and achieve the normalization of relations.

He also spoke about the influence of China and Russia in the Western Balkan region. In this context, he mentioned the increase in the sale of Russian and Chinese weapons in Serbia and in the entity of the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Russia's influence in the Western Balkans is to destabilize this part of the world and hinder transatlantic integrations, as well as to build energy dependence in the sector, testing certain leaders. Russia has supported the separatist agenda, providing arms to Republika Srpska and Serbia," said Lancaster. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly, where Kosovo aims to advance its status, is institutionally separate from NATO, but serves as an important link between NATO and member countries' parliaments.

It consists of 281 delegates from all 32 NATO member countries.

In addition to them, delegates from 9 associated countries, 4 associated Mediterranean countries, as well as 8 parliamentary observer delegations also participate in its activities.

Associate members may present resolutions and amendments to resolutions. Also, they can serve as special rapporteurs associated in committees, to present their perspectives in NATO-Parliamentary Assembly reports.

However, they do not have the right to vote on the Assembly's reports, resolutions or leadership, nor do they contribute to its budget.

Currently, there are nine associate members - among them Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Assembly of Kosovo, for years, has been an observer delegation with two seats. With the increase in the level of representation, the participating Kosovar delegation would also expand. Otherwise, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the Kosovo authorities have requested accelerated NATO membership.

The country wants to first become part of the Partnership for Peace and then fully join the alliance.

NATO forces have been present in Kosovo since June 1999, after the end of the war and the withdrawal of Serbian forces./ Rel