Serbs adopt declaration of departure from Kosovo institutions

The municipalities in northern Kosovo, inhabited by Serbs, are: Northern Mitrovica, Zvecani, Leposaviqi and Zubin Potoku.

“If a compromise solution is not reached, we Serb political representatives, together with our associates, will start the process of leaving all of Kosovo's institutions on all levels, from central and local institutions to courts, police and prosecution, which completely destroys the Brussels” process, said the chairman of the Zvecan Municipal Assembly, Srdjan Milosavovic.

The leaders of the Serbian List attended the leaders of the Kosovo Serb leading party Goran Rakiq, Igor Sym enemies, Slavko Simi, the mayors of four municipalities in northern Kosovo under the Kosovo system, and the heads of four provisional municipal bodies operating under the Serbian system.

The security and political situation was discussed at the meeting, respectively, for the central authorities' unilateral <x0) decisions in Pristina”.

In the statement, the Government of Kosovo is violating the rights of the Serb community, breaking the Brussels Agreement, and failing to establish the Association of Serb majority municipalities.

Also, in the statement, it was stressed that the Kosovo side is undermining the peace and security of members of the Serb community.

On August 22nd, the Serbian List had also threatened to leave institutions unless a solution to the issue of Serbian license plates and documents is found.

At the top of almost all the institutions of the Serb community in Kosovo -- both in the Kosovo system and in Serbia -- are members of the Serbian List, the party that has the backing of official Belgrade.

These two decisions of the Government of Kosovo sparked discontent among local Serbs, who erected barricades on 31 July and 1 August. After the barricades were removed, the Kosovo government pledged to postpone implementing decisions by September 1st.

The leaders of Kosovo and Serbia met in Brussels under the European Union's mediation on August 18th, in an effort to find solutions that would enable us to overcome tensions. But, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, at the Brussels meeting did not reach agreement.

Efforts to convince parties to find solutions are continuing. In this context, meetings are held in Pristina with Kosovo political representatives, the United States' envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, and EU envoy for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak.

Prime Minister Kurti has said that at the Brussels meeting, Kosovo has expressed readiness is for the removal of access/exit documents if Serbia does the same. Vuciq, meanwhile, has declared earlier that all of Serbia's proposals have been rejected by Kurti.

The Kosovo government made decisions on Serbian license plates and documents in June and the decision on the documents was implemented for several hours on August 1st, until the barricades were removed.

The first decision concerns reregistering cars that have license plates issued by Serbia, at those RKS (New Kosovo Republic). Kosovo city acronym plates like KM, PZ and similar that are issued by Serbia are considered illegal by official Pristina.

Meanwhile, the second decision has to do with issuing a document for entry and exits for all citizens of Serbia entering Kosovo. This document, Serbia releases it to Kosovo citizens for 11 years and ends from the agreement on freedom of movement the parties have reached in Brussels in 2011. / REL