NATO Parliamentary Assembly Upgrades Kosovo’s Status to Associate Member

Jens Stoltenberg (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly decided in Sofia, on May 27, to accept a recommendation  to upgrade Kosovo's status from observer to associate member.

The motion was supported by a majority of votes, with one vote against and 14 abstentions, as reported by the Radio Free Europe (RFE) Albanian-language service.

Driton Hyseni, head of the Kosovo delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said that continuous efforts by the Serbian delegation, as well as other political actors in Belgrade, didn’t prevent Kosovo from advancing its status in the North Atlantic Alliance.

Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani stated that "NATO is Kosovo's destiny" and that a move to promote Kosovo as an associate member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly "will make sure that the voice of the people - the strongest supporter of the organization – can be heard."

Kosovo Defense Minister Ejup Maqedonci noted that Kosovo had made a step closer to full NATO membership, "which will certainly impact the stabilization of the Balkans."

The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is institutionally separate from the Alliance, but serves as an important link between NATO and the parliaments of member countries. In addition to delegates from 32 member states, delegations from associate members, including Serbia, participate in its activities.