Q:
A:
Serbs cannot participate in Kosovo local elections
Belgrade,
2 July 2009
Serbian Minister for Human and Minority Rights Svetozar Ciplic stated that at its session today the government concluded that the upcoming local elections in Kosovo are not in accordance with either UN Security Council Resolution 1244 or the constitutional framework for an interim self-governing authority and that Serbs from the province cannot participate in the elections under the existing circumstances.
Svetozar Ciplic
Speaking at a press conference, Ciplic said that the government has examined the current problems in Kosovo and has reached the conclusion that Serbs have been included once again in the Kosovo police service under the six item plan, which is based on Resolution 1244 and the policy that all international sides must be status-neutral.
The Minister said that the Serbian government expects that the return of Serbs, in the areas south of the river Ibar, into the Kosovo police service will improve the security situation and rule of law, in accordance with Resolution 1244.
He said that the government’s opinion is that the fact that Serbs are being admitted into the police force again means that the situation is returning to a point before Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, adding that the Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija will continue intensive cooperation with international peacekeeping missions to maintain the stability of the southern province.
He said that the government passed the bill on national minority councils, adding that this law will make Serbia the first country in the region with a thorough, well defined system for minority self-government.
The Minister said that the bill will be put before parliament urgently, remarking that this law will regulate the procedures for the election of national councils, their jurisdictions, financing and property ownership.
He specified that the 2006 Constitution for the first time defined and guaranteed the minorities’ right to self-government.
National minorities will be entitled to their national councils; he explained, adding that members of national minorities will see to the rights of their own groups.
This form of national administration is much more liberal and gives more rights than ones in Hungary, Croatia, Macedonia or Montenegro, Ciplic noted.
He said that the government’s opinion is that the fact that Serbs are being admitted into the police force again means that the situation is returning to a point before Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, adding that the Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija will continue intensive cooperation with international peacekeeping missions to maintain the stability of the southern province.
He said that the government passed the bill on national minority councils, adding that this law will make Serbia the first country in the region with a thorough, well defined system for minority self-government.
The Minister said that the bill will be put before parliament urgently, remarking that this law will regulate the procedures for the election of national councils, their jurisdictions, financing and property ownership.
He specified that the 2006 Constitution for the first time defined and guaranteed the minorities’ right to self-government.
National minorities will be entitled to their national councils; he explained, adding that members of national minorities will see to the rights of their own groups.
This form of national administration is much more liberal and gives more rights than ones in Hungary, Croatia, Macedonia or Montenegro, Ciplic noted.
Zarko Obradovic
Minister of Education Zarko Obradovic said that the government passed two bills concerning the education system today, specifying that one bill is about the basic education system and the second concerns textbooks and teaching aids. He remarked that the adoption of these bills will greatly improve Serbia’s education system.
Obradovic explained that both bills introduce new ideas into the Serbian education system, increasing the inclusion of children in the system and improving both the quality and efficiency of their education.
The education of adults has also been included in these regulations, the Minister said.
He announced a new way of financing as of the 2014/2015 school year.
Obradovic expressed his expectation that parliament will soon adopt these two laws, as they are the framework for other education-related laws.
Obradovic explained that both bills introduce new ideas into the Serbian education system, increasing the inclusion of children in the system and improving both the quality and efficiency of their education.
The education of adults has also been included in these regulations, the Minister said.
He announced a new way of financing as of the 2014/2015 school year.
Obradovic expressed his expectation that parliament will soon adopt these two laws, as they are the framework for other education-related laws.
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