Osman, Kurti, Konjufca: Holding Serbian referendum in Kosovo is violation of Constitution

Joint Declaration of Institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, after meeting with QUINT ambassadors and EU representative

President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Glauk Konjufca and Prime Minister Albin Kurti came out with a joint statement after meeting with QUINT ambassadors and EU representative, emphasising their once again opposition to holding the Serbian referendum in Kosovo.

The statement said that opening Serbia's polling stations on Kosovo's territory constitutes clear violations of the Constitution and Kosovo laws, as well as international practices. Moreover, such an act is a violation of Serbia's territorial integrity in relation to the independent and sovereign state of Kosovo.

State leaders have told ambassadors that Kosovo Serb citizens with dual citizenship will have the right to vote in line with international standards and practices, via mail and the liaison office.

According to them, even until now applied practices since 2012, have been unconstitutional, and therefore do not impose on the current institutions of the Republic of Kosovo to emerge from the clear will of citizens expressed on February 14, 2021.

Kosovo institutions have stressed that the issue is not the role of the OSCE, but the role of Serbia and its parallel and illegal structures in Kosovo.

Kosovo institutions have called on all democratic states to support Kosovo in its efforts to halt Serbia's continued actions that undermine Kosovo's sovereignty, territorial integrity and citizenship. Moreover, according to them, this practice of Serbia, which is following the Russian model, has full backing of the Russian Federation.

Joint declaration of institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, after meeting with QUINT ambassadors and EU representative

The institutions of the Republic of Kosovo, at a joint meeting with Quint Ambassadors and EU representative, presented their co-ordinated and joint position regarding holding Serbia's referendum on the territory of the Republic of Kosovo. In addition to emphasising that Kosovo Serb citizens with dual citizenship will have the right to vote in accordance with international standards and practices -- via mail and the liaison office -- institutions made it clear that opening Serbia's polling stations on Kosovo's territory constitutes clear violations of the Constitution and Kosovo laws, as well as international practices. Moreover, such an act is a violation of Serbia's territorial integrity in relation to the independent and sovereign state of Kosovo. Institutions have called on the international community to apply the same standards to Kosovo as to any other state, since the independence of our state has not only been recognised by most democratic countries around the world, but has also been sealed by the UN.

Kosovo's constitution, applicable laws in Kosovo, as well as international law and international practice do not recognise the right of a state to carry out referendum on the sovereign territory of another state. Therefore, until now applied practices since 2012, have been unconstitutional, and as a result, they do not impose the current institutions of the Republic of Kosovo on the clear will of citizens expressed on February 14, 2021. Much more when these practices have resulted only with the empowerment of Serbia's illegal structures in Kosovo.

Furthermore, Kosovo institutions have stressed that the issue is not the role of the OSCE, but the role of Serbia and its parallel and illegal structures in Kosovo. Because before O The SEU would hold a completely illegal process of opening polling stations on the territory of the Republic of Kosovo for a referendum of another state, so Serbia, and this process would be organised by Serbia's illegal structures in Kosovo. As evidenced in letter O The EU on the part of Serbian authorities, the reason Serbia insists on opening the polls even in Kosovo is because it considers Kosovo part of its territory. Therefore, it also wants to exploit the referendum as a means of extending its sovereignty over Kosovo. Consequently, the position of Kosovo institutions has nothing to do with the OSCE, but with the opposition to this continuing trend of Serbia, which testifies to clear territorial claims on Kosovo.

Kosovo institutions remain grateful to the Quint states and all other democratic states that have recognised Kosovo's independence and express gratitude that even today their support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country was confirmed. As such, Kosovo institutions call on all democratic states to support Kosovo in its efforts to halt Serbia's continuing actions that undermine Kosovo's sovereignty, territorial integrity and citizenship. Moreover, this practice of Serbia, which is following the Russian model, has the full support of the Russian Federation, thus testifying to their tendencies for rapid destabilisation of our region and the deterioration of the successes that Kosovo and the region have achieved in partnership with democratic friendly countries. The failure to hold the Serbian referendum on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Kosovo is the right step in our joint battle against the authorities and to advance democratic practices, which Kosovo has recently given even at the Democracy Summit organised by the United States.