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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

State leadership calls on Serbs to go to polls in Kosovo-Metohija

Belgrade, 1 November 2013

Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic addressed today the Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija on the eve of the local elections scheduled for 3 November and urged them to go to the polls in the greatest number possible.

The official website of the Serbian government brings the full text of this written statement.

"Respected citizens,

In this moment which is probably a decisive one, we want to inform you honestly, fully and accurately about the course of negotiations related to the holding of the upcoming elections and, in the capacity of the people to whom Serbia has shown its trust, present our position regarding these elections.

The Republic of Serbia entered the negotiations with representatives of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo-Metohija in good faith, aware of the fact that without cooperation with the European Union and other partners in the territory of Kosovo- Metohija it is not possible to improve the position of Serbs in the province.

None of the agreements we have reached so far has deteriorated the conditions that Serbs live in, nor has it worsen their position in Kosovo-Metohija.

Our state bodies - the government, Office for Kosovo-Metohija and other, have done everything in their power to ensure that the electoral process is conducted in a democratic way, with respect for the rights of all participants, without delays, obstacles and problems.

Both sides gave their word that the agreements will be implemented in good faith.

Upon the commencement of election activities and the start of work of the Working group for the holding of elections, our side has been faced with organised activities by Pristina aimed at hindering or preventing a massive participation in the elections of Serbs and other citizens of Kosovo-Metohija who are loyal to the Republic of Serbia.

Regular reports on the functioning of the Working group and its conclusions have been submitted to the government’s Committee for implementation of the First agreement on the principles regulating the normalisation of relations, concluded in dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels.

Today, only a few days before the local elections in Kosovo-Metohija, we are still trying to arrange some key elements necessary for the upcoming process to pass in the spirit of the agreement, in accordance with the principle of status neutrality and without widespread discrimination against some participants in the electoral process.

The fraud in the voter register, the denial of the voting right to internally displaced persons, planting forms and election materials with para-state features are only a part of a long list of moves that have been made with the intention of thwarting the elections and preventing the Community of Serbian municipalities from starting operating.

Guided by the interests of the Republic and its citizens, the state leadership maintained the necessary unity, although faced with obstructions and frame-ups by Pristina, supported by the activity of a small part of the political public from Belgrade.

Aware of the fact that the Serbs have never in history been able to achieve any result if they were divided, all the major political entities and officials, concerned over the fate of the remaining Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo-Metohija, have united around the idea of getting together, around the creation of the Community of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo-Metohija.

We have managed that the whole world recognises the Community of Serbian municipalities as a roof under which the Kosovo-Metohija Serbs and others who recognise the Republic of Serbia as their state will be gathered and as a home to which all the displaced persons can return if they want to.

We will achieve all this if we elect Serbian mayors and Serbian councillors and form Serbian municipalities. Any other outcome is a defeat and will bring Albanians to power in the lands they have never lived in.

Today, after years of losses, fears and uncertainty, the Serbs have the opportunity to win in the Serbian areas in Kosovo and create out of that victory a community through which they would remain inextricably linked with our country. The Serbian Community, as a firm structure recognised by the international community, our first institution for which no one will say that it is a parallel institution, would in the case of electoral success be not only established, but recognised, valued and respected.

In these circumstances, we should be aware that by boycotting the elections we would show that we want the problem of Kosovo-Metohija to be solved without Serbia, which is not only morally and politically unacceptable, but also deprived of any chance of success. The bad consequences that would result from this defeat are immeasurable, and those who would be glad about it are bad people, regardless of whether they are Albanians or Serbs.

That is why we urge all of you who signed up for the elections to go to the polls on 3 November 2013, although not all those who wanted to cast their vote will be able to exercise that right.

Only a high turnout, united stance and support to the state policy will ensure the survival of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija.

Your Serbia is calling you and wants to help you to live with your children in your house, on your property, safely and with hope in your eyes. Do not make a mistake because we will never be able to correct it. Be responsible to your descendants.

Long live Serbia!"

Prime Minister President of Serbia First Deputy Prime Minister