Baraliu: Kosovo should wait for the circumstances for full membership in the Council of Europe

Mazljum Baraljiu
Source: Kosovo Online

University professor from Pristina, Mazllum Baraliu, states that it would mean nothing for Kosovo to obtain special guest status in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and that such a status should not even be pursued.

"If approached with such a stance, it could lead to misguided directions in Kosovo's foreign policy, because the Council of Europe assembly has accepted with an absolute majority the position that Kosovo has met all the conditions for membership in the Council of Europe. However, this has not happened, but full membership should be sought," Baraliu told Kosovo Online.

He believes that the Council of Europe and the European Union are playing a political game by imposing additional conditions on Kosovo whenever it applies to join an international body or organization.

"Either full membership or nothing. Kosovo should wait for the right opportunities and circumstances to solidify awareness that Europe needs to include Kosovo and the entire Western Balkans within the European Union, because it adds value to the EU and to Western Europe in general," Baraliu emphasizes.