Serbian delegation to PACE notes "far-reaching" consequences of Pristina's CoE admission

BELGRADE - A member of the Serbian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said on Friday the delegation had told EU member states that "rewarding" Pristina for its refusal to establish a Community of Serb Municipalities by admitting it to the CoE would have an effect on regional stability in the Western Balkans and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, noting that the move would have far-reaching consequences.

"I also mentioned that in my speech - it is a decision that is by no means easy to make, even though they thought it is. I hope they will make a calculation after all and that we might have a delay until some other occasion and then hope something will happen that will prevent that from taking place," Dunja Simonovic Bratic said in a statement to Tanjug.

She said a postponement of an official decision on the so-called Kosovo's CoE membership until a May 16 Committee of Ministers meeting could be the only grounds for optimism.