Kurti: I don't want Albanian mayor in the north

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in an interview for Austrian newspaper “Der Standard”, while talking about new elections in northern Kosovo, has said that “I don't want Albanian mayors in the north, as is currently”, as the same have little legitimacy.

Kurti has said he can download in the name of Serbs, but this has to be done by petition.

Under the law on local self-government, 20 percent of those eligible to vote must submit a petition. I can't do this in their name. This is the only way to ensure that the boycotts are not repeated. In March, the Serbian List party boycotted the elections. I don't want Albanian mayor in the north like he is currently. They have little political legitimacy due to low voter turnout, despite their being perfectly legitimate”, Kurti said.

On the other hand, Kurti has said Belgrade wants territorial compensation for Yugoslavia's loss.

“However, Belgrade is not interested in the democratic participation of Serbs in Kosovo, because it wants territorial compensation for the loss of Yugoslavia”, Kurti has said.

Kurti told of “Der Standard” that Serbs in the country's north have great pressure.

There are 47 newly appointed Serbian police officers. We have provided threem euros for agriculture, start-ups and NGOs in the north. I have been to the north several times and have met Serbs; but these meetings are not made public because people are looking for me. Their families are under pressure. A Serb whom I appointed as an adviser resigned after two hours because his wife immediately lost half her salary. This year alone in the north were 15 Kosovo license cars” burned, Kurti said.