16/11/2012 Political Affairs and Democracy
Strasbourg, 16.11.2012 – “I listened to the concerns of the Serbian authorities and I reminded them of the need to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law for all people of Kosovo*, also through the activities and the programmes of the Council of Europe” said Björn von Sydow (Sweden, SOC), rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the situation in Kosovo, at the end of his two-day visit to Belgrade on 15-16 November.
He congratulated Prime Minister Dacic on his active engagement in the framework of the EU-mediated talks with Mr Thaçi, and hoped that the outstanding issues will be discussed in a spirit of genuine co-operation, and that all agreements will be fully implemented.
However, the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina should go hand in hand with the implementation of European human rights and rule of law standards, in particular when it comes to fighting organised crime, trafficking and corruption as well as strengthening the judiciary,” he added.
Furthermore, Mr von Sydow stressed the need to remove all remaining institutional obstacles that internally displaced persons face and which prevent their access to economic, social and cultural rights in their places of displacement.
“Last but not least, facing the past should not be taboo for Serbia and gathering evidence for war crimes prosecution from Kosovo must also be a priority for the new government,” he concluded.
The rapporteur also met with members of the Serbian Parliament, the War Crime Prosecutor, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration, the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, as well representatives of civil society and of the international community. He plans to present a final report to the Political Affairs and Democracy Committee meeting on 14 December 2012, with a view to an Assembly debate in January 2013.
*All reference to Kosovo in this text, whether to the territory, institutions or population, shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.