Havenier: US Election Position Has Not Changed

In a written response to Radio Free Europe, Ambassador Havenier has recalled that, in compliance with legal predispositions, Kosovo will hold elections for mayors and municipal municipalities in four Serb-run municipalities north.

Calling on all candidates from all political parties to participate “in this democratic process”, US Ambassador Havenier has warned that “all efforts to prevent elections through threats or use of violence will face the strong condemnation of the international community”.

The United States and our partners will monitor this process from closer to”, Mr. Havenier has said, simultaneously asking the Government of Kosovo to prove sensitivity to the concerns of citizens living in northern Kosovo.

For the latter, meanwhile, and for political parties, the US ambassador has underlined the importance of “the responsibility they have to respect democratic processes”, recalling the possibility that everyone has had to register and participate.

On April 23rd, extraordinary elections for mayors of northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviqi are expected to be held, as well as early elections for the two municipal municipalities in Zvecan and Leposaviq.

In the race for mayor of these municipalities are 10 candidates from four political subjects, of whom only one from the Serb community.

Three days before the elections, Allexandar Jablanovic, the candidate of the Kosovo Serb Party for chairman of Leposavic, has withdrawn from the race, arguing that “has no adequate” conditions for maintaining them.

However, Valmir Elez from the Central Election Commission (KQZ) has told Radio Free Europe that this institution has already printed the ballot.

Asked whether votes for the Party of Kosovo Serbs will be counted, he has said “The CEC will publish results for certified candidates. ”

The Serbian List, the main party of Serbs in Kosovo, has not applied to participate in these elections, with the argument that two requirements have not been met -- the formation of the Serb majority municipalities' association, and the withdrawal of Kosovo's special police units from the north.

The extraordinary elections are being organised after the mayors of these municipalities -- from the ranks of the Serbian List, the largest Serb party in Kosovo -- has resigned in November last year, as a sign of opposition to the Kosovo Government's decision to reregister Serbian license plates in the Kosovo Republic.