Radakovic on Kosovo's admission to the CoE: I am worried about EU monitoring, how credible it will be

Dusan Radakovic, Executive Director of the NGO Center for Advocacy of Democratic Culture from North Mitrovica, believes that the admission of Kosovo to the Council of Europe would be a big plus for the Self-Determination Movement, but that it would not be wise for Serbia to leave this institution.

"I think there is a great attraction and desire, primarily of the authorities of the Self-Determination Movement, because we know that in the previous two-year period, there were no recognitions or entries into some major international institutions, so this is a big plus. Paradoxically, during some quasi-sanctions of the EU against Kosovo, Kosovo's accession is being processed in a certain way. It's not 100% certain yet, there is voting, but it is definitely a big plus for Self-Determination and the ruling policy. As for Serbia, it will fight in its own way, and how much of a possibility that is, we will see. Definitely a minus for Serbia and in general in its actions and cooperation with the EU and the Council of Europe," he says.

Radakovic says it would not be wise for Serbia to withdraw from the Council of Europe because it can suggest and propose solutions regarding issues in Kosovo.

"Serbia's staying means it can continue to exert pressure, to prevent, suggest, propose solutions regarding the protection of cultural heritage, property issues, decisions that will be made in Strasbourg, and so on. I think it is important for Serbia to be there and give even greater impetus and importance to the whole process," the interlocutor emphasizes.

Radakovic expresses concern about the monitoring process of rights in Kosovo, stating that there are institutions that do not do their job, such as organizations and institutions dealing with human rights.

"That process will be monitored, but I am afraid of the fact that we had a situation in 2007 and 2006, the standards before the status, and suddenly those standards were lost. We had the status in 2008, something similar to this, I remember, a meeting with Dora Bakoyannis where it was said that we had three important things - expropriation, property of the Visoki Decani Monastery, and the Community. We only have the property of Visoki Decani, the others are not discussed. I am afraid that we don't have pre-status standards, and that we don't have a specific entity to oversee all of this. I am afraid of EU oversight, how credible and effective it will be, and that we don't have a copy of EULEX that oversees the process but is questionable in its implementation," Radakovic concludes.