EU again expresses disappointment with Serbian List for not participating in Sunday's election

This commission has already placed containers on major roads in the north, where there will be a total of 19 polling stations, while Kosovo police said they have taken all measures to create a safe environment for the election process.

In the elections, only 10 candidates from the Serb community are expected to participate, as the Kosovo Serb Party, a political subject with headquarters in the Leposavici municipality, gave up participating in the elections because of lack of adequate conditions for holding elections.

Posts of mayors in northern Kosovo remained empty in November last year, when Serb representatives in the area resigned from their jobs amid tensions over the government's decision to convert Serbia's issued license plates.

The Serbian main subject of Kosovo Serbs has called on Serbian citizens for the general boycott of these elections, which he has called the non-democratic “organised by Albin Kurti”. This list said Serbs should look down on all those who plan to go out and participate in this illegal process and who oppose the interests of the Serbian people”.

The European Union said ensuring that elections are held under peaceful conditions is essential.

In a response to Voice of America, European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said that “is very disappointing that the Serbian List representing Kosovo Serbs has decided not to participate in the April 23rd local elections scheduled for the four northern municipalities of”.

Stano said it is the duty of Kosovo and Serbia to take priority over the return of Kosovo Serbs to institutions and agree on a road ahead that is comprehensive, fair, democratic and peaceful, calling for the fulfillment of the March 18th agreement on normalising relations between the parties.

The Agreement and Annex pave 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”, Stano said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq has sharply criticised the main Western countries for supporting Sunday's elections, stressing that their goal is to render the foundation of the Serb majority municipalities' association impossible.

Citing Sunday's elections as “a serious day for Serbian people, he called on residents of the north to avoid incidents.

Authorities in Kosovo have already called on Serbian citizens to participate in elections, which they say are important for the consolidation of democracy and the functioning of institutions in the country's north.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani through a message called on Serbs in Kosovo's north to participate in Sunday's elections, regardless of what he said, threats and intimidation by Belgrade-backed criminal structures.

President Osmani said that “the participation of citizens in the election would send a strong message to those seeking to intimidate and press” underlining that Kosovo institutions will be in their favour to provide security.

The elections were initially scheduled for December 18th of last year, but they 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.

Talks on its implementation are expected to be held on 2 May in Brussels.