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Recommendation 1822 (2008)
Developments as regards the future status of Kosovo
1. Referring to its Resolution 1595 (2008) on developments as regards the future status of Kosovo,
the Parliamentary Assembly strongly affirms that in no way should
the status process shift the attention of the Provisional Institutions
of Self-Government (PISG) and the international community from the
implementation of the Standards for Kosovo. In fact, putting a renewed
and resolute focus on standards is even more necessary to foster
trust and facilitate reconciliation in the current climate of political
tension, determined by the failure to reach a compromise.
2. The Assembly reiterates its aspiration for Kosovo to be, irrespective
of its status, a multi-ethnic area which is safe for all those who
live in it, where Council of Europe standards of democracy, the
rule of law, protection of human rights and rights of national minorities,
and good governance are fully enforced; where the most important
international and European instruments in these fields, in particular
the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5), the European
Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment (ETS No. 126) and the Framework Convention
for the Protection of National Minorities (ETS No. 157) are fully
applicable and their respective control mechanisms fully in force; and
where the values of democracy, tolerance and multiculturalism are
shared by its people and institutions.
3. As regards the status itself, the Assembly considers that
it should allow the full implementation of the Standards for Kosovo,
the strengthening of human rights protection mechanisms in Kosovo
and ownership of reforms by Kosovo institutions, as well as the
increased accountability of all parties concerned, including of
the international community, in Kosovo.
4. The Assembly also welcomes the possible deployment of a European
Union Rule of Law Mission to Kosovo and, in this context, reaffirms
that the Council of Europe, as the leading human rights watchdog
in Europe, should be closely associated with any such mission.
5. Being convinced that the Council of Europe should continue
to play a major role to ensure that this aspiration becomes a reality,
the Assembly asks the Committee of Ministers to:
5.1. reinforce the current Council
of Europe field office in Kosovo;
5.2. make every effort to ensure that the most important Council
of Europe international instruments in the field of human rights
and rights of minorities are fully implemented, including their
respective control mechanisms;
5.3. provide its support and expertise to the relevant authorities
in Kosovo in the following areas:
5.3.1. constitutional
and legal issues;
5.3.2. protection of human rights and strengthening of human
rights protection mechanisms, including the ombudsperson institution
and other mechanisms aimed, inter alia,
at ensuring accountability of the international community in Kosovo;
5.3.3. durable solutions for all asylum seekers, refugees and
internally displaced persons (IDPs);
5.3.4. protection of minority rights, including those of the
Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian (RAE) community, and the use of minority
languages;
5.3.5. protection of the Serbian community and its cultural heritage
in Kosovo;
5.3.6. independence and efficiency of the judiciary, including
the fight against impunity;
5.3.7. fight against corruption, organised crime, money laundering
and trafficking in human beings;
5.3.8. democratisation, financing of political parties and good
governance;
5.3.9. decentralisation and effective local government;
5.3.10. protection of cultural and religious heritage;
5.3.11. intercultural dialogue;
5.3.12. education;
5.3.13. support for civil society and measures to foster reconciliation.