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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbian municipal assemblies to be formed in Kosovo-Metohija in ten days

Gracanica, 26 May 2008

Serbian Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic said today in Gracanica that municipal assemblies in the communities in Kosovo-Metohija in which Serbs voted in local elections on May 11 will be constituted in ten days at the latest.

Slobodan Samardzic

In the talks with coordinators of municipalities from central Kosovo, Samardzic said that now it is necessary to constitute municipal assemblies and executive councils – the bodies that will take over the new local governments.

We gave instructions to current coordinators as to how to carry this out, we also talked to them about the importance of appropriately formed assemblies, and that Belgrade and UNMIK should gradually begin cooperation with these assemblies since they have been given legitimacy by the people, said Samardzic, addressing the press following the meeting.

The minister also talked with representatives of the Kosovo Police Service and told them that in order for their status to be regulated within the budget of the Republic of Serbia, the period of suspension in the Kosovo police first has to pass. After that happens, at the beginning of June, they will be taken over by the Serbian Ministry of Interior.

The problem of suspended Serbian members of the Kosovo Police Service would be solved if municipalities and enclaves had their own police stations, Samardzic said and explained that those police stations would be under the direct command of UMIK police and they would cooperate with Serbian municipalities.

He said that there is still an offer for Serbian policemen to work in the Kosovo Police Service under UNMIK command and added that that issue will be resolved systemically in early June.

Samardzic said last night that pursuant to the Law on local self-government, municipal assemblies will be constituted in the southern province15 days after releasing the final results of local elections.

The Serbian Electoral Committee has given instructions on how to constitute local self-government organs. It is a crucial political aspect because Serbia can implement its function in the province in a legitimate and legal way in communities where Serbs and those who are loyal to Serbia live, Samardzic told the Beta news agency.

Following a meeting in Kosovska Mitrovica, Samardzic said that the situation in Kosovo is tense, not among Serbs however, but among UNMIK and representatives of the EULEX mission, which cannot come up with a way to supervise Kosovo’s independence.

It is our job to encourage Serbs to remain in Kosovo and to disregard the illegal EULEX mission, to take care of their lives with Serbia’s help and carefully constitute and develop their institutions, said the Minister.

He recalled that according to UN Resolution 1244, only the UN mission can function in the province.

EULEX cannot be legalised in the UN because its goal is Kosovo’s independence, and the UN strives to establish Kosovo’s substantial autonomy. These are two different and incompatible goals, he said.

The Minister said that these attempts by EULEX are an illegal and violent action, however, he did not reject the possibility of success of such action.

Serbs will remain calm and committed to their institutions, and these are local self-government and institutions of the Serbian state, said the Minister.

Yesterday Samardzic signed the contract for construction of a facility to accommodate IDPs in Kosovska Mitrovica, and during his visit to central Kosovo today, he will sign a contract for construction of a corn silo.

On the second day of his visit to Kosovo-Metohija, Samardzic will also visit the villages of Kusce and Ranilug, where he will meet with representatives of the local self-government, institutions and the University.