16.04.2024

Today, in an important official meeting, the Minister for Communities and Return, Nenad Rašić, received the Head of the Office of the Council of Europe, Mary Ann Hennessey. In the meeting it was discussed about cooperation, guaranteeing the rights of minorities as well as deepening ties to achieve common objectives. 

The Head of the Office of the Council of Europe, Mary Ann Hennessey, underlined the importance of respecting the rights of minorities as one of the primary and most important issues for the Council of Europe. She expressed the position of the Council of Europe to affirm and protect the rights of minorities through institutional and economic flows.

Minister Rašić will have support in the realization of strategic goals such as the Strategy for the protection of rights and interests of communities, but also for other development projects that may be part of the planning of ministry and Minister Rašić, as a representative of the largest minority in Kosovo, she said.

Minister Rašić said that the Ministry for Communities and Return is ready to take all the steps and measures that will be necessary to protect the interests of communities and strengthen their  role in social and political life. He also pledged to cooperate with the Council of Europe in fulfilling strategic goals for strengthening the minority community in Kosovo.

The interlocutors agreed that the cooperation should be bilateral and direct, with strategic goals for the empowerment of the minority community, but also to demonstrate the readiness of the Kosovar institutions to fulfill their obligations. Minister Rašić also confirmed that Kosovo has the political will and institutional capacity to be an active member of the Council of Europe. 

On the other hand, the Head of the Office of the Council of Europe, Mary Ann Hennessey, thanked Minister Rašić for the warm welcome and pointed out the importance of continuous cooperation between the institutions of our country and the Council of Europe. She underlined that both parties have a common interest in promoting European values and standards in the region. 

It was announced in the meeting, that they agreed to intensify the cooperation between them so that the contacts are closer and more regular, including the possibility of daily contacts if necessary. This highlighted the commitment of both parties to meet common goals and ensure a sustainable progress in the field of minority rights in Kosovo.