MFA denies that Montenegro voted for Kosovo's admission to the Council of Europe

AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS

The information that the Council of Europe (CoE) voted on Kosovo's membership in that organization on Wednesday is incorrect, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced.

"Regarding the media's interest in the announcements related to the alleged vote in the CoE during yesterday's ministerial session, we would first like to point out that the information that there was a vote in the CoE on Kosovo's membership in that organization on Wednesday is incorrect," the MFA stated.

The government department said that the agenda of the ministerial session within the CoE is determined by consensus, at the proposal of the country holding the presidency.

"This was also the case with the 134th ministerial session of the CoE Committee of Ministers, which was held on Wednesday and Tuesday in Luxembourg, and at which the Montenegrin delegation was led by Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović," the statement said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Montenegro had no comments on the agenda, which is a public document and is available on the website of the Council of Europe.

As they said, Kosovo's application for membership in the Council of Europe was not an item on the agenda of the 134th ministerial session of the Committee of Ministers, and therefore there could not have been a vote of states on this issue.

"Accordingly, we particularly emphasize that the information reported by certain media in Montenegro that there was a vote in the Council of Europe on this issue on Wednesday is completely incorrect," the statement said.

Therefore, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, the reactions of political entities in this regard are also irrelevant.

"Within the discussion on the topic of the Role of the Council of Europe in the new geopolitical context, the heads of delegations considered the challenges facing Europe, as well as the possibilities and chances for strengthening the role of the Council of Europe in strengthening democracy and strengthening the democratic security of societies," the statement said.

It is stated that, in this context, the representatives of the states, in their presentations, also expressed their positions on the issue of expanding the membership of the Council of Europe.

"Montenegro, in accordance with the established foreign policy of the state and adopted foreign policy priorities, in its national statement indicated the Government's commitment to European integration and its intention to become the 28th member of the EU by 2028," the statement said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that, in the same context, it was emphasized that European integration represents the best framework for ensuring lasting stability and prosperity in the Western Balkans.

"The importance of providing support to countries that are ready to build their democratic capacities in accordance with European standards, to become members of the Council of Europe," the statement said.