Kosovo was adopted on Monday (May 27) as an associate member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, an institutional body separate from the North Atlantic Alliance, as quoted by Focus.
"NATO is the destiny of Kosovo and this measure will ensure that the voice of the most pro-NATO people in the world will be heard," Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani wrote on the X social network.
Grateful to all @natopapress members who voted in favor of upgrading Kosovo's status to that of an associate member.
— Vjosa Osmani (@VjosaOsmaniPRKS) May 27, 2024
NATO is Kosovo's destiny, and this move will ensure that the voice of the most pro-NATO people on Earth is heard.
We will continue our efforts together with our… pic.twitter.com/BRuzcttqde
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly is institutionally separate from the Alliance, but serves as an important link between the Alliance and member state parliaments, as well as between NATO and other countries and institutions. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Kosovo authorities called for early NATO membership.
On Sunday (May 26th), Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic urged members of NATO's Parliamentary Assembly not to grant Kosovo associate membership, arguing that offering such status would be a reward for Kosovo authorities' attempts to block mediated dialogue of the EU aimed at normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina. Serbia does not recognize the independence of Kosovo and therefore believes that it cannot be accepted as a member of international forums.