Government calls on Serbian List not to pressure Serbs for vote in the north

The Kosovo government has called on the Serbian List, which, as it said, does not spread dezinforms and pressure the citizens of the Serb community in northern Kosovo “who want to be part of the democratic process of April 21,”.

According to an Administrative Guide of the Government of Kosovo, the Central Election Commission (KQZ) has scheduled for April 21st the vote on the dismissal of Albanian mayors in majority Serb municipalities: Northern Mitrovica, Leposaviq, Zvecan and Zubin Potok.

This vote preceded the signing of the petition for the replacement of Albanian mayors of these municipalities, who were elected and took office in May after Serbs boycotted last year's April elections.

The petition was supported by the Serbian List, but on April 7th, this party -- which is the main party of Serbs in Kosovo and enjoys Belgrade's support -- said it would not participate in the voting process “because Kosovo Prime Minister [Albin] Kurt's done everything he can to keep the process from successful”.

“It [the April 21st vote] is the result of demand and signatures collected by citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, residents of these four municipalities. The administrative guidance envisioning the possibility of leaving mayors, respects the political will of citizens”, the Government of Kosovo said through a response sent to Radio Free Europe.

The Kosovo executive called on citizens in northern municipalities, inhabited by Serb majority, to seize their opportunity and their right to vote for or against the departure of four Albanian mayors.

Serbian List Chairman Zlatko Ellek claimed on Sunday there are 46,000 eligible voters, but the situation on the ground is different because in recent months, about 15 per cent of Serbs have left. In this way, he hinted that the April 21st vote could not be successful, as it requires that 50 per cent plus one vote by the total number of registered voters vote for the mayor's dismissal.

He added that voter lists “do not reflect the real situation on the ground” and that the number of Albanians on the voters' lists has increased”, but Ellek did not present any evidence of that claim.

With their actions, they are proving that the focus is not on the interests of citizens. The methods of the Serbian and official Belgrade List have not benefited private citizen, rather”, said in response sent by the Government of Kosovo.

According to the directive, adopted last September, for this vote to be successful, it takes 50 percent, plus one vote of citizens with the right vote.

After that, the result is sent to Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, who has a legal deadline of 30 to 45 days to announce holding early elections.

And if the vote is unsuccessful, a new initiative can be undertaken again after 12 months. / REL