Sources of referendum's funding unknown

Leaders of Serbs in northern Kosovo say they will finance the referendum through donations and private companies that are ready to help. Serbs in the north form majority population. However, Serbs south of the Ibar River - where they live in scattered enclaves - say the referendum is counterproductive for the Serb community, and also contentious, because it is financed by secret sponsors. Sources of referendum's funding unknown Representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo still expect Belgrade to support them in organizing the referendum, although they received the message from the president and the prime minister that the referendum is unconstitutional and leading to a deeper crisis. Even without the help from the state, they will find a way to finance the referendum. Serbs who live south of the Ibar look at the referendum differently. Radmila Trajkovic, director of the health-care center in the enclave of Gracanica, say the referendum is leading the country into isolation and that it will jeopardize the survivial of Serbian institutions. And the referendum is also contentious from the legal standpoint. "What is the meaning of sponsorships of private authorities who are unknown, who are not institutions, who are not part of the area of transparency. That's counterproductive, although those people are doing nothing but compromise the state of Serbia, the Kosovo issue, and divide the citizens," said Trajkovic. Deputy PM Ivica Dacic told Serbs from northern Kosovo that they should coordinate their every move that concerns important issues, such as calling a referendum, with Belgrade. Kosovo Minister Goran Bogdanovic believes that the referendum would at this point represent a waste of time and energy. President Boris Tadic will spend Christmas in Kosovo, and that will perhaps be a chance to discuss this issue once again. Meanwhile, Kosovska Mitovica Mayor Krstimir Pantic told Beta news agency that the cost of the referendum will be minimal, because the commission members and voting committees will volunteer their time on February 14 and 15. "The only expense will be to print some 35,000 ballots that will contain the question: 'Do you support the forming of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo in northern Kosovo and Metohija'. That cannot cost more than EUR 1,000," said the mayor. A view of Kosovska Mitrovica (file) B92

Sources of referendum's funding unknown

Representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo still expect Belgrade to support them in organizing the referendum, although they received the message from the president and the prime minister that the referendum is unconstitutional and leading to a deeper crisis.

Even without the help from the state, they will find a way to finance the referendum.

Serbs who live south of the Ibar look at the referendum differently. Radmila Trajković, director of the health-care center in the enclave of Gračanica, say the referendum is leading the country into isolation and that it will jeopardize the survivial of Serbian institutions. And the referendum is also contentious from the legal standpoint.

"What is the meaning of sponsorships of private authorities who are unknown, who are not institutions, who are not part of the area of transparency. That's counterproductive, although those people are doing nothing but compromise the state of Serbia, the Kosovo issue, and divide the citizens," said Trajković.

Deputy PM Ivica Dačić told Serbs from northern Kosovo that they should coordinate their every move that concerns important issues, such as calling a referendum, with Belgrade.

Kosovo Minister Goran Bogdanović believes that the referendum would at this point represent a waste of time and energy. President Boris Tadić will spend Christmas in Kosovo, and that will perhaps be a chance to discuss this issue once again.

Meanwhile, Kosovska Mitovica Mayor Krstimir Pantić told Beta news agency that the cost of the referendum will be minimal, because the commission members and voting committees will volunteer their time on February 14 and 15.

"The only expense will be to print some 35,000 ballots that will contain the question: 'Do you support the forming of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo in northern Kosovo and Metohija'. That cannot cost more than EUR 1,000," said the mayor.