Election preparation in northern municipalities, despite warnings of boycott

The Central Election Commission decided on Friday to reduce the number of polling stations for the April 23rd elections following recommendations by security institutions.

According to the commission in the preliminary elections held in northern Mitrovica municipalities, Zvecan, Leposavici and Zubin Potok were opening 44 polling stations, while 19 centres are expected to open with the new decision, out of which 13 will be driving.

“Based on the assessment of the security organs is found that only six polling stations can be opened in ordinary locations, and 13 polling stations will be alternative centres or in containers, which will be provided by other institutions”, Central Election Commission member Arian Elshani said.

Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said today during a report to the parliamentary commission for European integration that Kosovo police are ready to ensure the success of the election process.

“We estimate that there is no reason for the elections not to be held because of the criminal behaviour of some gangs there, but also the refusal of the Serbian List. It is clear that specific segments there supported by Serbia refuse rule of order and law and reject democracy there. We as the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo have the obligation that citizens there offer the chance for a quiet life and for democratic regulation”, Minister Svechla said.

The Serbian list, which is the main political subject of Kosovo Serbs, will not participate in the elections, while on Thursday Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, said the condition for the return of Serbs to Kosovo institutions is the founding of the Association of Serb majority municipalities without which he said, Serbs would not participate in the elections organised by Kosovo authorities.

Kosovo Parliament Speaker Glauk Konjufca said today that the country's institutions cannot be conditioned by Belgrade.

Your choices are set. A compromise earlier occurred when elections were postponed once. They have been postponed at the request of the international community. We have received assurances from them that they will not be postponed more than once and that has ended up as a story and now we must wait for the movement on the part of Serbian political parties to register”, he said.

Mr. Konjufca said conditioning Serbs to participate in the elections after the formation of the Association has not been supported by the international factor either.

“I think that it has been very positive the position of Quintı and the international community that saw Serbian List participation, without the participation of Serbian political parties in the elections, which have been warned on April 23rd, there is no formation of association. This has been the position of Quintinı, and I think Kosovo doesn't need to move at all, before there are developments in this direction”, said Mr. Konjufca.

The embassies of the United States, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom in Pristina earlier expressed regret over the Serbian List's decision not to participate in the election. While stressing that it is essential to ensure that elections are held in a peaceful and orderly manner and that parties exercise restraint and avoid violence, which could undermine elections.

Alliance for the Future of Kosovo Chairman Ramush Haradinaj called Thursday during a session of parliament for the elections to be postponed.

Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi said in an interview with Voice of America on Thursday that “duty is not a good option, it is the option of those who think that at this moment the north will be better turned into a crisis management area and not to enter a process of normalising reports”.

Posts of the mayors of northern municipalities -- northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok -- remained empty in November last year when Serb representatives in the area resigned from their jobs amid tensions over disagreements over a government decision in Pristina to reregister Serbian license plates in those of the Republic of Kosovo.

The elections were initially scheduled for December 18th of last year, but were postponed at the request of Western diplomats, who were involved in an effort for a normalisation agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, which the parties agreed on 18 March in Ohrid.