PACE regrets absence of mutually-accepted solution to Kosovo

PanARMENIAN.Net - "The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe considers the solution of the Kosovo status process as a fundamental element for ensuring peace and long-term stability in Europe. Determining the future status of Kosovo is a highly sensitive political issue with serious regional and wider international implications and is a challenge for the international community," reads a PACE resolution on Kosovo's future status.



"The Assembly deeply regrets that, at this stage, no mutually-accepted solution has been found. The dialogue engaged over this period has been precious in clarifying to what extent there is room for an agreement, amongst others, on issues such as the protection of national minorities, the protection of cultural and religious heritage and decentralisation. However, the position of the two sides as regards status remains unchanged.



"The failure to reach a compromise under the period of engagement of the Troika opens a period of great uncertainty:  amongst the possible scenarios, it is not to be excluded that the Kosovo Assembly decides to resort to a Unilateral Declaration of Independence, should the UNSC be incapable of achieving a unanimous position and imposing a solution.

 

"The Assembly urges the parties concerned to continue to act in a responsible manner, keep their pledge to preserve peace and dialogue in all circumstances and refrain from any incitement to violence.



"The Assembly reiterates its aspiration for Kosovo to be, irrespective of its status, a multi-ethnic area which is safe for all those who live in it, where Council of Europe standards of democracy, rule of law, protection of human rights and rights of national minorities, and good governance are fully enforced, where the recourse offered by the European Convention on Human Rights is available to everyone and where the values of democracy, tolerance and multiculturalism are shared by its people and institutions," the resolution says.