The European Union urged Kosovo government And ethnic Serbs to start a “serious dialogue” by returning to state institutions after boycotting the municipal elections with the aim of to push for more independence.
the boycott He confirmed that the Western-backed plan had been verbally approved by the Kosovo and Serbian governments in March was not working. It aimed to defuse tensions by granting Local Serbs more independence with keep Pristina ultimate authority.
“These elections do not offer a long-term political solution for These municipalities’ foreign EU affairs said spokesman Peter Stano on Monday, referring to North area of The country is 90% ethnic Albanian with Serbs in the majority.
“There is an urgent need need for serious dialogue. It is necessary to urgently restore a situation in which the Kosovo Serbs are actively involved in Local government, police and judiciary in the north of Kosovo in a permit.
Stano said that the bloc regrets that not all parties and communities exercise their democratic right to participate and vote in The election.
Turnout is very low. in Especially among Kosovo Serb citizens, shows That this process is not and can not be considered business Stano said.
“These elections do not offer a long-term political solution for these municipalities. This can only happen through permanent return of Kosovo Serb Enterprises, W for Kosovo to enable this return ”.
European Union also The authorities urged the Serbs to stay community in the north of Kosovo.
”the work on Enterprise of Assembly / Society of Serb-majority municipalities need to finalize it soon like possible… Urgent need for serious dialogue between the government of Kosovo and Kosovo Serbs in the north to this end. Little yet progress He was made. Therefore, we need Both sides play they role and fulfill their obligations.
Meanwhile, the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, said it was about tectonics changes took place in Kosovo local elections.
“This is historical result Because nothing similar happened on European soil since the Second World War, for turnout of a nation to be 0.029 percent, Vucic said in a news conference.
According to him, the Serbs showed exceptional unity and discipline.
“The Serbs acted not just on a national level, but on a national scale also Very strong people who know What pressures are they exposed to, but a people who They were ready to show Tremendous determination to oppose Gauleiter in most dignified way,” He said.
Vucic added The OSCE and the European Union did not observe the elections.
“They did not have time to visit the polling stations of the European Union and Quinte (US, UK, France, Germany and Italy) countries, I think they would not see any irregularities.”
Vucic said it was “likely” that he would be involved in the next round of talks mediated by the European Union with Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Rapporteur in Brussels on May 2, though “don’t expect anything” out of that meeting.
“I’m afraid this is a precursor to a much deeper crisis,” Vucic said.
However, political analyst Dusan Gangik believes that the elections are not legitimate.
“if it was first The Brussels Convention has been ratified international treaty, then it is problematic from this point of view of legitimacy because main goal of Elections are integration of “The Serbs, not the Albanians,” he told the Serbian newspaper Tanjug. news an agency.
Kosovo Serbs boycotted the extraordinary elections in four municipalities in Country north on Sunday.
Voting has ended with Turnout was just 3.47%, according to the Kosovo Central Election Commission (KQZ).
KQZ 1567 said out of 45,095 registered voters in the region I went to the polls until 7:00 pm local time (1700 GMT).
a total of 11 candidates ran for mayor in North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavic and Zvecan, as well as 60 candidates for city boards in Zvekan and Leposavic.
About 50,000 Serbs who live Kosovo’s state institutions have not been recognized since Pristina declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, after a decade of guerrilla uprising, instead They see Belgrade as their capital.
The Kosovo Election Commission said turnout in Local elections on Sunday in the north was 3.47%. all four elected The mayors belong to Albanian political parties, including two from the ruling Self-Determination Party of Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The only Serbian candidate drew only five votes.
Serbian officials in the north collectively quit in November 2022 in Protesting the Pristina government’s plan to replace Serbian car Number plates dating back to the pre-independence era with plates no with Those of Kosovo.
They demand implementation of association of semi- Independent municipalities for Kosovo Serbs have been agreed upon with EU mediation a decade ago, before participating in Any elections organized by Pristina.
Corti accused the Serb government of Organizing a threat campaign” intimidating Serbs in the north who He was so prepared vote.
Risky security in Northern Kosovo
Kosovo President Fyoza Osmani announced that election in It was the northern municipalities postponed on April 23 due to the dangerous security situation.
Ottoman decision It came after withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs from central and local institutions in Kosovo.
The elections were predetermined for December 18th last year.
However, during the election campaign f over 10 stalled vehicles They belonged to the Serbs set on fire by unknown persons or groups.
Earlier this month, Serbian official Kosovo authorities accused of Trying to incite the Serbs in The country shot one of the members of the local community.
Petar Petkovic director of the desk for Kosovo and Metohija, said the local media This serb national Milan Jovanovic has been shot with Police firearm on North Liposavik – Mitrovica road.
Kosovo police later announced comment of Four officers suspected of participation, incl one who Maybe he shot.
The Kosovo Central Election Commission decided reduce the number of Polling stations from 44 to 19 for The election.
thirteen of The centers alternate and will be set up in containers in Safe areas.
Kosovo, inhabited mainly by Albanians, separated from Serbia in 1999 declared independence in 2008. Serbia has not recognized its independence and is considering it former County to be part of its territory.
