Savkovic: At the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, it was evident there is no unity regarding Kosovo; entry into the Alliance impossible without consensus

Senior advisor of the ISAK Fund, Marko Savkovic, states that the vote at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on the decision for Kosovo to become an associate member, where delegations from Italy and France were among those abstaining, shows that, as in the case of the Council of Europe, there is no unity. However, he emphasizes that Kosovo gained an enhanced status because there are strong arguments on the side of those trying to present Kosovo as part of the transatlantic alliance which has again found a reason for its existence.

"And the efforts that Serbia is putting in through its diplomatic apparatus and parliamentary diplomacy influence that all this does not pass smoothly. However, we must bear in mind that this is the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and Kosovo is distinctly pro-NATO. In the context of this prolonged Ukrainian crisis, the war that is happening there, a new division, alignments, there are very strong arguments on the side of those trying to present Kosovo as part of this transatlantic alliance which now in this confrontation with Russia has again found a reason for existence, a reason for further expansion. In that situation where allies are being sought, politicians in Pristina fit that description," says Savkovic for Kosovo Online.

Savkovic adds that there is a continual suggestion that something needs to be given to Kosovo, that they need to be somehow encouraged and integrated.

"The NATO Parliamentary Assembly actually does not have a formalized role within NATO structures, but it is important as a parliamentary forum, important as a place where security discussions take place due to all its committees, because of its relationships with countries outside of NATO, those in the Partnership for Peace program. It was an important diplomatic arena for the Republic of Serbia as well, which has five representatives there. Now we have a situation where Kosovo has been accepted as a member in another diplomatic and parliamentary forum, and for them, this certainly represents an achievement," our interlocutor states.

When asked if this means that Kosovo is closer to NATO membership, Savkovic responds negatively.

"I think not, because when it comes to membership, consensus of all members is required. There are NATO members that do not recognize Kosovo, to start with, and decisions in NATO are always made by consensus. Also, through everything that has happened in the last two years, Kosovo has not managed to establish itself as the most desirable and indispensable partner. Their Euro-Atlantic future is still in a kind of limbo although many colleagues think that a bypass route is the way to full integration, meaning not going through the European Union. At the same time, Kosovo has experienced a 'defeat' when it comes to entry into the Council of Europe, which is a more significant institution, so here we might have a bit of satisfaction, to show that their efforts are viewed positively by at least part of the international community," concludes Savkovic.