Kosovo's government says it will apply to join the Council of Europe

Kosovo says it is going to apply to change into a member of the Council of Europe, the continent’s prime rights organisation.

The Balkan nation's authorities stated it had already ratified the related conventions on "human rights and elementary freedom".

The transfer comes after Russia give up the physique on March 15 following its invasion of Ukraine.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008 nearly a decade after the struggle between ethnic Albanians and Serb forces led to 1999. The transfer has been recognised by 117 nations together with most EU nations.

Serbia -- and its ally Russia -- has refused to recognise Kosovo as a separate nation after 11 years of European Union-brokered negotiations.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stated that his authorities will strongly object to Kosovo becoming a member of the Council of Europe and has known as an emergency assembly.

He stated Kosovo’s “mentors” within the West are behind the transfer, including that Serbia would reply in a diplomatic and peaceable manner.

“We're only a small, freedom-loving nation which needs to protect its sovereignty and the suitable to decision-making,” Vucic added.

Kosovo says it now has the required help of two-thirds of the 46-country organisation. The council already has an workplace in Pristina to help with democratic reforms.

In November 2015, Kosovo didn't change into a member of the UN cultural group UNESCO after Belgrade lobbied in opposition to the appliance.

Kosovo efficiently joined the worldwide soccer governing physique FIFA in Might 2016.

Montenegro in the meantime grew to become the most recent nation to hitch the Council of Europe on 11 Might 2007.