15 minutes agoEU disappointed in northern election boycott by Serbian parties
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)The EU expresses disappointment over the non-participation of Serbian political parties in local elections in Kosovo's four northern municipalities. In a response to Radio Kosovo, an EU spokesman has said it is the duty of Kosovo and Serbia to prioritize the return of Kosovo Serbs to central and local-level structures. [...]
On April 23rd in the four northern Kosovo municipalities (North Mitrovica, Zvecani, Leposaviqi and Zubin Potoku), with Serb majority, local elections are expected to be held. The Serbian list, but other parties representing Serbs in Kosovo have stated they will not participate in these elections.
A spokesman in Brussels has told Kosovo Radio, via email, that it is to regret boycotting elections by local Serb political representatives.
The “is therefore very disappointing that the Serbian List and other parties representing Kosovo Serbs have decided not to participate in the local elections scheduled for 23 April in the four northern municipalities,”, reportedly in the EU response.
In November last year, Serb representatives in Kosovo have fled all Kosovo institutions, including the positions in the Government and Assembly of Kosovo, and those of the Kosovo judiciary and police in the north.
The departure had come because Kosovo Serbs did not support the Kosovo Government's decision to reregister cars with Serbian illegal license plates on RKS plates (Kosovo Republic). )
From Brussels, they say the EU has committed, with its partners, to de-proportionate tensions and for Serbs to meet their dialogue obligations and return to local institutions.
Little progress has been made so far. It is imperative that we return to a situation where Kosovo Serbs actively participate in local governance, police and judiciary in northern Kosovo. We need both sides to play their part in this,” said in their response.
With the 27th of February of this year, Kosovo and Serbia signed an agreement on the road to normalisation between the two countries. This agreement coincided with the signing of an Annex for implementation of the Agreement, signed in Ohrid, Macedonia on 18 March.
According to the EU “Agreement and Annex paves the way for the overall normalisation of relations. A key part of implementing these agreements will be the sustainable return of Kosovo Serbs to Kosovo institutions, including local government. ”
According to the EU, they cannot force neither Kosovo nor Serbia to make these democratic processes succeed.
“It is the task of Kosovo and Serbia to prioritize the return of Kosovo Serbs to local government, police and judiciary, and agree to a road ahead that is comprehensive, fair, democratic and peaceful,” is said at the bottom of the EU's response to Radio Kosovo.
