Belgrade wants Serbian elections in Kosovo, Government: Serbia's Election Decision Will Be True to Constitution

Government spokesman Progress Kryeziu has said that, in the course of the answer, Brussels' agreements, reached between Kosovo and Serbia, will also be analysed under the dialogue mediated by the European Union.

“Contents and the details of the request will be analysed and our response will always be in the light of the laws and Constitution of the Republic, respect of Kosovo's sovereignty and independence under Article 2 of the Brussels Constitutional Agreement February 27th, and European practices of interstate co-operation for voting abroad for citizens with dual citizenship”.

Organisation for Security and Co-operation officials in Europe (OSBE) have told Radio Free Europe days ago that on 3 November, the mission in Kosovo has accepted the request by the Government of Serbia to be included in the collection of two citizenship Kosovo residents' votes for elections in Serbia.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq has announced the general elections for 17 December of this year.

In response it was said that O The SEU has informed the Government of Kosovo and other relief mechanisms of this requirement, and that the support of Kosovo institutions is essential for O The SEU is involved in such an election organisation.

“Mission has informed the Government of Kosovo of this demand and is in principle ready to collect votes under the same conditions, based on past practices. These conditions include approval by the two sides and the provision of security, including by the Kosovo Police”, has been said in response.

The last parliamentary elections, which Serbia has also organised for the Serb community in Kosovo, have been those on 21 June 2020.

Those elections are held according to an earlier practice, where the Kosovo Security and Co-operation Organisation of Europe mission has collected votes. Those votes were later counted in Rashka and Vranje, two border towns in Serbia.

This vote-gathering practice from O The SEU in Kosovo has been established since 2017, and Kosovo authorities have allowed it until last year.

In 2022, Kosovo ruling party officials Vetevendosje Movement said Serbia should apply directly to Kosovo for holding these elections on its territory.

In April of that year elections were held in Serbia, and for the first time, the Kosovo government has not allowed holding elections on Kosovo territory.

As a result, Kosovo Serbs have been organised and buses have travelled to Serbia to vote.

Buses in northern Mitrovica carrying Serbs to Serbia to vote in Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections.

In January of that year, Kosovo's Assembly had also adopted a resolution, through which it has been rejected holding votes in Kosovo for a Serbian referendum on constitutional changes.

QUINT (United States, Britain, Germany, Italy and France) and the European Union had regretted the adoption of the resolution.

The international community has repeatedly called on the Kosovo government to find ways to hold Serbian elections.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has repeated several times that Kosovo does not want to be unable to vote Kosovo citizens with dual states, but that it cannot be taken against the country's legitimacy and constitutionality.

Serbia does not recognise Kosovo's independence, and since 2011 it is engaged in the EU-brokered dialogue, with the aim of normalising relations between the two countries.

The sides have signed a host of agreements, but not all have been implemented. / REL/