Kosovo Serbs urge Serbia to vote in referendum

In the early morning hours in northern Mitrovica, a protest by Serbs, led by the head of the Serbian List, simultaneously minister in the government “Kurti”, Goran Rakic.

He has made it known that the mayors of ten Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo have come out with a joint statement.

Rakic suggested they would impose reciprocity in the country's north if the Kosovo government does not allow holding the 3 April Serbian elections.

According to him, this kind of reciprocity will take place only in northern Mitrovica municipalities -- Zubin Potoku, Leposaviqi and Zvecan -- adding that it would then be located in other municipalities.

Meanwhile, part of the protesters seeking to allow voting in Serbia's referendum have improvised as if they are voting for this referendum.

At the Jarinje border checkpoint, Kosovo Police Special Forces are seen ready to intervene in case of need.

The Kosovo government has banned the organisation of Serbia's referendum on its territory. During the extraordinary session, Kosovo's Assembly voted by 76 votes for the resolution banning the organisation of the referendum in Kosovo.

Besides Vetevendosje, the resolution was backed by deputies from the Democratic League of Kosovo and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, while the Democratic Party of Kosovo boycotted the session.

Although Serbia called for participation of Serbs living in Kosovo, authorities in Pristina say it does not recognise the right of another state to hold a referendum on the territory of another sovereign state.

The interest in participating in this referendum is low as it comes to a technical issue. Serbs will vote this Sunday on several amendments to the Constitution in which the way judges and prosecutors are elected in order to ensure an independent legal system as a condition for EU membership./euronews. al