Osmani: Denying the membership in the Council of Europe is denial of access to justice for the citizens of Kosovo
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights and at the same time, the commencement of the German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Acting President Dr. Vjosa Osmani participated today at the virtual international conference held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Acting President Osmani congratulated the Council of Europe – Office in Prishtina and the German Embassy in Prishtina for this organization, emphasizing at the same time the importance of commitment to the protection of human rights.
“With the growing tendency to question the very foundations of this Convention, such events and conferences offer an excellent opportunity to us to reflect on how far we have come and what we should prioritize on our further traversing towards the guaranteeing the protection of human rights,” said the acting President Osmani.
According to her, it is great that the Convention has not remained frozen in time, but through the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, it has managed to adapt to the circumstances.
“Although it remains undisputed that this Convention is the most important and successful document to date for the protection of human rights in Europe, it is unfortunate that Kosovo is not allowed to join the Council of Europe. In Kosovo, the Convention is directly applicable through Article 22 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. However, it is really unfair that Kosovo has not yet joined the Council of Europe, as such an act constitutes a violation of human rights by denying the right of access to justice for the citizens of Kosovo “, stressed the acting President.
This International Conference, which is continuing its proceedings, is attended by the German Ambassador to Kosovo, Mr. Jorn Rohde, the Head of the Council of Europe- Prishtina Office Mr. Frank Power, the High representatives of the Council of Europe, of the European Court of Human Rights and many others.