The elections in the north, KFOR: Ready to face any kind of scenario

The date to address the ballot boxes is April 23rd, and although concerns have been raised that the Serbian List, which will not be part of these elections, could cause tensions during the election process, KFOR estimates that at the moment there are no indicators of security problems regarding the upcoming elections.

The international security mission stresses that it is maintaining the high level of readiness to face any kind of scenario to provide a safe environment and preserve freedom of movement for all Kosovo communities.

Kosovo's “Police is the authority that provides security during the elections. KFOR is monitoring the situation under UN Security Council Resolution 1244. At the moment, there are no new indicators of security problems regarding the upcoming elections, but KFOR maintains the high level of readiness to face any kind of scenario to provide a safe environment and preserve freedom of movement for all Kosovo communities”, KFOR's response to the clankosova says.

Kosovo police have also indicated that in time they plan and take necessary police measures to conform to the operational command, which envisions all necessary security measures -- before, during and after the election process.

Kosovo's “Police is the law enforcement institution and all its actions are in line with legal and constitutional authorisations, as well as with conforming operational police planning. Similarly, in cases where local or central elections are organised, including extraordinary elections for mayors in northern municipalities in the country, Kosovo Police in co-operation and co-ordination with competent institutions in time plan and undertake necessary police measures to conform to the operational command, which envisions all necessary security measures, ahead of, and after the electoral process”, it is said in response to the Kosovo Police.

We remember that the four majority Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo are still without mayors due to the Serb resignations, following warnings from the Kosovo government that there will be inlinement of fines for drivers with illegal license plates.

The elections, which were scheduled to be held on December 18th of last year, were postponed due to tensions and barricades that had established criminal groups in Belgrade's north.

Now when there is an agreement on normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, which was reached on February 27th in Brussels and on March 18th in Ohrid, the conditions appear to be ripe for free elections in North Mitrovica, Leposaviq, Zvecan and Zubin Potok on 23 April.