QUINT: April 23rd elections in the north

Although these states had been calling for election delays last time, the QUINT embassies have now acknowledged that the elections will be held.

QU The INT stressed that the April 23rd elections will be held in line with legal requirements.

From the French Embassy, they say their position on holding elections in the north remains the same.

“About your question we announce that the “position of the French Embassy and the QUINT member states has not changed in terms of early elections in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo and remains the same as that of the recent QUINT declaration on this topic” ♫ reportedly in response to the French Embassy.

From the German Embassy have also confirmed that their opinion on elections in the north remains the same as that of 24 March. In addition, we stress once again our full support for the EU Special Representative in the Pristina-Belgrade” dialogue has been promoted to KALLXO.com by the German Embassy.

The Italian Embassy and the United States have also said that they have nothing to add beyond what was said a month ago.

And the Great Britain Embassy has stressed that they are closely following the development of this election process.

Our “Possition has not changed since the QUINT statement on March 24th” was said among other things by the British Embassy.

On March 24, this year, QUINT through a joint media communique had expressed regret over the Serbian List's decision not to participate in extraordinary elections in the north.

The “Embassys of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States agree that, following the postponement of municipal elections in December 2022, mayoral elections and municipal assembly elections will take place on April 23rd 2023, in accordance with legal requirements. We regret that the Serbian List did not take advantage of the democratic right to participate in these elections” said in response.

The joint statement stressed that it is essential that elections be held peacefully and fairly, while the QUINT calls on all sides to avoid violence.

The elections are scheduled to be held on April 23rd, following their postponement in December last year, at the request of the international community.

The extraordinary local elections will be organised in four northern municipalities -- northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok -- following their chairmanial resignations in November last year.

Their resignations, as well as the collective resignations of Serbs from Kosovo institutions, have been a sign of dissatisfaction with the Government of Kosovo's decision to convert vehicles with Serbian illegal license plates to RKS.