Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has called on Serbs living in Kosovo to utilize the rights provided by the country’s Constitution.
“The Republic of Kosovo is your home, and we will do everything for you to be included and heard,” Osmani said during a plenary session in front of European Parliament deputies on Wednesday.
According to her, Euro-Atlantic integration is the sole objective for Kosovo.
“Kosovo is Europe, to be Kosovar means to be European.”
During the session, Osmani emphasized that Kosovo is the most pro-European country in the Western Balkans.
“The existence of our state demonstrates what democracies can achieve when they come together, when they face occupiers, when they support those fighting for justice and equality, and when they unite against tyranny, dictatorship, and genocide.”
Referring to a delegation from Preshevo, which was present at the session, President Osmani stated that Kosovo “is with you and you are not alone in the face of human rights violations”.
“Kosovo is ready to do more for Ukraine”
Osmani stated that Kosovo is ready to do everything it can to support Ukraine. She recalled that Kosovo was one of the first countries in the region to impose sanctions on Russia for its war against Ukraine.
President Osmani mentioned that Kosovo has trained Ukrainians to work in mine clearance, provided support to survivors of sexual violence, and offered assistance to Ukrainian journalists.
“We are ready to do even more,” Osmani expressed, among other things.
She stated that the best way to overcome challenges is through partnership and that the non-membership of the Western Balkans region in the European Union also poses risks to the bloc itself from harmful influences.
“Kosovo is not distant; it is an integral part of Europe [in territorial terms],” she emphasized.
During her speech, President Osmani did not comment on the recent tensions in northern Kosovo.
However, at the beginning of the session, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola stated that the EU is aware of the impact that the recent tensions in northern Kosovo can have on the region, thus mentioning the urgent need to deescalate tensions.
She also stated that Kosovo will benefit from the EU only when it takes measures to reduce tensions.
President Osmani’s visit was scheduled over a month ago and is taking place at a time when Kosovo’s relations with the European Union are in a difficult phase.
The EU holds Kosovo responsible for escalating tensions in the northern part of the country and for disregarding the demands to take steps to reduce these tensions.
As a result, the cabinet of the EU’s High Representative Josep Borrell has prepared and distributed several punitive measures against Kosovo to the member states.
The European Parliament has supported Kosovo since it declared independence and has issued invitations in several resolutions for the five EU countries that have not recognized Kosovo to do so.
This call was reiterated in the recent resolution on Kosovo approved by the European Parliament on May 10th. However, resolutions of the European Parliament do not have binding force for EU member states.
During her visit to Strasbourg, Osmani also held meetings at the Council of Europe.
Kosovo applied for membership in this organization a year ago. Last month, the formal procedure for admitting Kosovo to this institution began.
Osmani also met with the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejčinović Burić.
In this meeting, the President of Kosovo expressed the country’s readiness to fulfill the necessary criteria, respect democratic values and human rights, and considered Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe as highly important.
