Vuciq warns referendum on Kosovo issue

The practice of the referendum in Serbia is not frequent, but is not unknown. If there is a referendum and what citizens can answer, it will not be known until the end of internal dialogue.

Deputy Prime Minister in Serbia Government Rasim Lajic tells of RTS, that referendum is not an option for resolving the Kosovo issue, but a way for citizens in referendum, freely and democratically to express their opinion on the solution proposed by politicians. This, according to him, is not an escape from responsibility.

If the constitutional preamble referring to Kosovo were changed, it would be a constitutional referendum, which would be mandatory.

“If the law for substantial autonomy for Kosovo and Metohija were issued, a referendum would have to be called in order to adopt such a law. The other solution, where Serbia's territory, which can be found international legal form for another future state of Kosovo, would have to be sought by citizens' opinion in referendum”, says Slobodan Orlovic, professor at the Novi Sad Faculty of Jurydic.

Such referenda had three in Serbia. In 1992 power asked citizens for changes in the Constitution, six years later, if they were for participation by foreign representatives in solving problems in Kosovo, as well as in 2006 when they were declared for the highest legal act.

Lajic says that in the past there were referenda with “ledirial”, where the answer is expected to be what power it provides for citizens through its campaign.

“here, and if you want to influence, it is very difficult, given the high level of polarisation which the Kosovo issue draws on itself, Lajjic said.

If there is a referendum and with what question, it will be clearer after spring, the internal dialogue will develop by then.