Kosovo bans officials from Belgrade to participate in election campaign

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kosovo has banned government officials in Belgrade from participating in the Kosovo Serb parties' campaign and supporting either for the October sixth extraordinary elections. According to incumbent Kosovo Foreign Minister Jetlir Zyberaj's adviser, the 6 October <x0-elections are elections of the Republic of Kosovo and its citizens, and Kosovo's decision has been taken in the wake of threats being made to the Serb community in Kosovo on the part of official Belgrade”.

Belgrade officials cannot and will not be allowed to campaign elections in the Kosovo elections. Nor will threats against the Kosovo Serb community be tolerated from Belgrade. Belgrade knows the reality in Kosovo and the conform this should be brought in, respecting the constitution and Kosovo laws”, says Jetlir Zyberaj. The Kosovo authorities' ban to allow Kosovo entry into Serbia's officials to participate in the election campaign immediately prompted the Kosovo office's response to Serbia's government, where among Serbian officials not allowed to enter Kosovo is deputy director of this office, Damjan Joviq.

He had planned to attend a Kosovo rally on the <x0 list Srpska”, which has the backing of official Belgrade. In the Kosovo office's response to the government of Serbia, the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reportedly issued a ban that cannot be justified with any law or agreement in Brussels to prevent representatives of the Serbian government from supporting the Kosovo Serb people. It is disturbing to silence representatives of the international community in Pristina who quietly observe the escalation of political violence against the Serbian people. This is quite disturbing”, it's said in this office's response.

The Kosovo government's ban has also been asked by official Brussels, which for years has been a mediator in Kosovo- Serbia and one of the agreements reached is freedom of movement as well. Maja Kocijancic, the EU spokeswoman, has said of the media in Pristina that the <x0papals should be brought in line with the agreements reached in Brussels, but also in compliance with Kosovo laws”. According to her, the EU-mediated dialogue agreement on official visits defines modalities and officials must undergo an announcement procedure.

All other officials from Kosovo or Serbia who do not undergo an announcement procedure have the right to take advantage of provisions for freedom of movement. We expect all agreements reached within the framework of EU facilitated dialogue to be respected and implemented, also during the election campaign. But when these visits are related to elections in time of campaigning, then each should respect Kosovo laws”, Kocijancic has said.

All those who are part of the campaign for these elections in Kosovo are expected to act in compliance with Kosovo laws and international standards”, Kocijanciq has said.

Kosovo authorities have earlier on several occasions banned senior government officials from Kosovo because of their campaign against Kosovo recognition and against Kosovo's membership in international organisations.

Months ago, the Kosovo government had declared persons “granting” dozens of Serbian personalities, who could not enter Kosovo's territory. Serbian politician Vojislav Seshel, sentenced by The Hague tribunal, was included on the list. Ljubisa Divkovic, former General of the Serbian Army, as well as Interior Minister and Serbia's Defence Minister Alexander Vulin. /DW