Serbian elections in Kosovo -- Bislimi: Serbia submits formal request to Kosovo government

The chief negotiator in dialogue with Serbia, said in an interview for the Serbian media, KoSSev has left open the possibility of reaching the vote-gathering agreement in Kosovo. “Belgrade has agreed to use the liaison office to submit such a request”, Bislimi said.

It does not belong to the Government of Kosovo to limit by no means the rights of citizens who have voting rights in Serbia. It's already a matter of agreement. So it is usually organised”, Bislim said.

Bislimi stressed that the vote-gathering for Serbian elections will only take place “if a” deal is reached.

You'll agree with me that you need an agreement because you're not signing an agreement for the next 20 years, but until the next election. In this context, the Government of Serbia must submit a formal request to the Government of Kosovo, in which it would seek help to collect votes on Kosovo territory”, Bislimi said, stressing that the QUINT countries and European emissary Miroslav Lajcak have offered their support to this.

In this context, Mr. Kurti said he is in close contact with the QUINT countries in an effort to implement this, but provided this agreement ensures Kosovo's territorial integrity and the country's sovereignty and, as a result, will become a relief of the vote collection”, the deputy prime minister said.

He said he expects Belgrade to contact the Government of Kosovo on this issue.

Bislimi said the Kosovo government wants never to limit citizens who have a vote in these elections.

“They must always be held within the Kosovo Constitution and agreements that clearly highlight territorial integrity and clarify that elections are held for citizens outside Serbia's territory who have a right to vote”, he said.

In January, Kosovo has not allowed the holding of Serbia's referendum on certain changes to the Serbian constitution.