"Between May 28 and June 2 2004, Bratislava, the capital of one of the seven new NATO member states, has been hosting the spring session of NATO Parliamentary Assembly. On 31 May, the meeting of NATO PA Committee on Civil Dimension of Security took place. In addition to discussing various reports that will be voted upon at the annual session in November, this Committee also focused on the situation in Kosovo.
Two members of the Assembly of Kosovo, Alush Gashi (LDK) and Oliver Ivanovic (KP), have been invited by Mrs. Alice Mahon (UK, Chairperson of the Committee), as guest speakers to the Committee meeting. Representatives of the Assembly of Kosovo presented their views on the March events and spoke about what, in their opinion, needs to be done to properly manage the consequences and prevent similar happenings in the future. Oliver Ivanovic´s speech was entitled "17th of March", while Alush Gashi named his contribution "Freedom based on responsibility".
Although the two Kosovo Assembly Members defended before NATO parliamentarians significantly different positions, they agreed that a new approach would be required for building a new future in Kosovo in which freedom of all people will be granted.
Greatly appreciating NATO parliamentarians´ interest to focus on Kosovo and listen to Kosovo elected representatives, Oliver Ivanovic and Alush Gashi jointly decided to invite NATO PA Committee on Civil Dimension of Security to pay a visit to Kosovo. According to the Committee´s Chairperson and director, this invitation will be taken into consideration when preparing the activity plan for next year.
Both Alush Gashi and Oliver Ivanovic acknowledged the importance of involving the Assembly of Kosovo in future activities of NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The two Assembly Members and OMiK, which facilitated their participation in this event, have been promised that, until the final status of Kosovo will be resolved, NATO PA would invite members of the Assembly of Kosovo to attend NATO PA events whenever Kosovo will be on their agenda. "
