EU prefers mayors' resignation in the north for early elections

Asked what the form of the EU supporting the election proclamation as soon as possible, the EU has recalled that “the resignation of the mayors is the fastest way to promote early elections”, while demanding that the “must show constructiveity in implementing the” elections.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has consistently said the resignation is a moral act, and that citizens as a solution have the launch of a petition demanding the chairman's resignation.

The EU has named the status quo unstable in the country's north following the Serb resignation from Kosovo institutions and the boycott of elections in the north by Serbs.

The continuation of protests against new mayors, without new local elections in the four municipalities, whether by resignation or petition for resignation, is not the way forward. The EU expects elections to be free and fair and that Kosovo Serbs show constructive engagement in the election process, and engage to participate in them. That would be a clear sign of the Kosovo Serbs' intention to return to Kosovo institutions”, said in response.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that holding early elections in the north should precede the removal of punitive measures by the European Union. According to him, such an act is logical, following agreement reached in Bratislava.

Following early elections in the north, which were boycotted by Serbs but supported internationally, the international community held Kosovo responsible for tensions, as police assistance assured elected mayors of access to municipal buildings.

Serbs opposed, and their crowds attacked KFOR members, police members as well as Albanian media teams.

The EU and the US demanded that Kosovo withdraw police from and around municipal facilities without delay, and that new leaders exercise the mandate outside municipal buildings. Measures of political and economic character were established as punishment for refusing the Government to comply with these requirements.

Prime Minister Kurti has declared that, confirming the June 3rd declaration, all steps have been fulfilled. They include reducing 25 per cent of police in and around municipal objects, assessing the security situation in the north along with KFOR and EULEX, as well as the pro-organised election declaration in the north after summer.

Speaking of procedures to be followed for holding elections in the four northern municipalities, Prime Minister Kurti has said after the government's meeting Wednesday that it will be a new experience for institutions, so it must be well prepared.

So, we have to make sure that this process, which will be our new experience, is as safe as inefficiable in the legal and legal sense. I don't know how much time it takes, but as political will from the Government of the Republic of Kosovo I am interested as soon as possible, and as soon as it does”, he has declared.

The municipality of Leposaviqi, Zvecan, North Mitrovica and Zubin Potok, since May, are being run by Albanian and Bosnian leaders. Leposaviqi's and the chairman of North Mitrovica, who belong to Vetevendosje, are exercising office in municipal offices, despite continued Serb protests.

Meanwhile, Zvecan chairman and Zubin-Potok's chairman, belonging to the opposition Democratic Party, the mandate is being exercised by alternative buildings.

After violent protests in the north, a number of Serbs have been arrested. But since Kosovo and the EU have agreed on initial steps towards escalation of the situation, courts have released some of the detainees.