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A:
No local elections in Kosovo-Metohija
Kosovska Mitrovica,
15 April 2012
Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanovic stated today that UNMIK sent a negative response with regard to organising the local elections in Kosovo and that Serbia will not organise them so as not to violate Security Council Resolution 1244 and bring into danger the Serbs who live south of the Ibar River.
In a statement with the Tanjug news agency, Bogdanovic said that UNMIK is in charge of organising local elections in the province.
The Minister stressed that this does not mean the Serbian institutions would be shut down.
Local elections were not held in Kosovo from 1999 until 2008, and despite that our institutions survived and were perhaps even stronger than those formed after the elections, he said.
However, he said that the announcements that elections would be held in two municipalities north of the Ibar are not good, as it is not good for Serbs to be divided in that way.
The Minister highlighted that Resolution 1244 must not be violated as based on this document Belgrade expects negotiations on the status of Kosovo to begin very soon.
Bogdanovic called on Serbs in northern Kosovo to desist from organising the local elections, as there are various ways for local self-government to continue functioning there.
He mentioned the possibility of forming municipal councils or extending the mandates of local self-governments.
We will not give up on the idea to hold local elections at a later stage, he said adding that after this electoral cycle is completed, we will once again talk with UNMIK representatives and ask them to organise local elections in Kosovo-Metohija.
The Minister stressed that this does not mean the Serbian institutions would be shut down.
Local elections were not held in Kosovo from 1999 until 2008, and despite that our institutions survived and were perhaps even stronger than those formed after the elections, he said.
However, he said that the announcements that elections would be held in two municipalities north of the Ibar are not good, as it is not good for Serbs to be divided in that way.
The Minister highlighted that Resolution 1244 must not be violated as based on this document Belgrade expects negotiations on the status of Kosovo to begin very soon.
Bogdanovic called on Serbs in northern Kosovo to desist from organising the local elections, as there are various ways for local self-government to continue functioning there.
He mentioned the possibility of forming municipal councils or extending the mandates of local self-governments.
We will not give up on the idea to hold local elections at a later stage, he said adding that after this electoral cycle is completed, we will once again talk with UNMIK representatives and ask them to organise local elections in Kosovo-Metohija.
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