EU calls to announce early elections in the north

The European Union (BE) has called for early elections in northern Kosovo to be announced as soon as possible, thus “to end the current” crisis.

In an answer to RTV Dukagjini, an EU official, has indicated that the EU remains concerned about tensions in northern Kosovo and continues to call for the immediate desept on both sides.

For more and to end the current crisis, early elections must be announced as soon as possible in all four municipalities and fully comprehensively organised. This means the full and unconditional participation of Kosovo Serbs. The EU has made specific requirements for escalation for both sides (according to the High Representative's statement on behalf of the EU on June 3rd), the High Representative's proposal for both sides on 22 June and the conclusions of the European Council on June 30th). In the June 3rd declaration, agreed by all 27 member states, the EU clearly said it was ready to take decisive measures in the event of failure to de-tradition”, the EU's response said.

On the other hand, the EU reportedly welcomes the Government of Kosovo's announcement of an immediate 25% reduction of police presence in and around municipal buildings in northern Kosovo, as well as commitment to further lowering the scale after joint security assessments by Kosovo Police, EULEX and if appropriate, KFOR.

These are steps in the right direction, but further steps are needed. The EU urged Kosovo to act in disarrayably and immediately suspend police operations within and near the four municipal buildings in northern Kosovo. The four mayors must temporarily carry out their duties on various objects from the” municipal buildings.

The EU emphasises that it is essential to have quick implementation of the Agreement on the Path of Normalisation of Relations and its Implementation, thus citing the establishment of “The Association of Serb Major Communities”.

Otherwise, tensions in Kosovo have increased following the entry of new Albanian mayors into Kosovo's northern municipalities building dealt with Zvecan, Leposaviq, and the Serb majority-inhabited Zubin Potok.

The Serb community and the Serb List, the largest party of Serbs in Kosovo, have boycotted the April elections, but neither do they accept the new mayors.

Tensions have culminated even violently between protesters and members of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR.

The international community has asked Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions and land at the negotiating table.

On July 10th, Kosovo has reached agreement with the EU on lowering tensions, and it has included holding new elections in the north.

However, recently, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said the election cannot be without full suspension of the situation in the north.

We will make sure that this new experience, which we will have with the interruption of the mandate of these mayors in the north, has the support and legal and procedural guarantees. So, we need to make sure that such a process is so sure that it is inconsistent in the legal and judicial sense”, Kurti said during a media conference.

Local Power Management Minister Elbert Krasniqi has said early elections could be held if 20 per cent of voters in a municipality sign a petition for the removal of the mayor.

This petition, according to Krasniqi, would then be sent to the Central Election Commission (KQZ), which would verify it and then launch a referendum on whether the chairman should be fired.