"North voted on stance toward Serbian government"

Oliver Ivanovic said late on Wednesday that citizens in northern Kosovo were "under great pressure to vote against Pristina's institutions in the referendum". But, said the Ministry for Kosovo state secretary, what they were actually doing was "voicing their opinion as to whether they support or oppose the Serbian government". "North voted on stance toward Serbian government" “It is evident that people were faced with a great dilemma and under huge pressure, since local political leaders would interpret the fact that someone decided not to cast their ballot as a sign that they are in favor of Pristina's institutions. However, in my opinion, that was the vote for or against the government of the Republic of Serbia,” Ivanovic said in a statement for Tanjug. Ivanovic did not wish to comment on the outcome and turnout in the referendum which was held despite Belgrade's disapproval, and said that "requires more time and a comprehensive analysis". The turnout stood at just over 75 percent, while 99.74 percent of those who voted said they rejected the Kosovo Albanian institutions in Pristina. Ivanovic voiced hope that the referendum would not have adverse effect on the decision-making process in relation to Serbia's bid to become candidate for EU membership and further EU integration. Oliver Ivanovic (Beta, file) Kosovo assembly: Referendum unlawful The Kosovo assembly in Pristina adopted on Wednesday a resolution, declaring the referendum in northern Kosovo "unlawful and invalid". The referendum will have no legal or political repercussions, and therefore it is not valid, Kosovo's assembly released. The assembly "encourages the Serb community in the northern part of the country to engage in the implementation of the comprehensive proposal for resolving the status of Kosovo", the release reads. It continues to say that the referendum "in the northern part of the country" was organized by "parallel structures financed and administered by Serbia", and claims that the plebiscite was directed against "the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo". The release adds that "such non-institutional and illegal events are detrimental to continuing efforts of the Republic of Kosovo to integrate the Serb community into Kosovo's institutions". Serbs north of the Ibar River form the majority population and reject the authority of the government in Pristina, as well as the ethnic Albanian unilateral proclamation of independence made in early 2008. Tanjug

"North voted on stance toward Serbian government"

“It is evident that people were faced with a great dilemma and under huge pressure, since local political leaders would interpret the fact that someone decided not to cast their ballot as a sign that they are in favor of Priština's institutions. However, in my opinion, that was the vote for or against the government of the Republic of Serbia,” Ivanović said in a statement for Tanjug.

Ivanovic did not wish to comment on the outcome and turnout in the referendum which was held despite Belgrade's disapproval, and said that "requires more time and a comprehensive analysis".

The turnout stood at just over 75 percent, while 99.74 percent of those who voted said they rejected the Kosovo Albanian institutions in Priština.

Ivanović voiced hope that the referendum would not have adverse effect on the decision-making process in relation to Serbia's bid to become candidate for EU membership and further EU integration.

Kosovo assembly: Referendum unlawful

The Kosovo assembly in Priština adopted on Wednesday a resolution, declaring the referendum in northern Kosovo "unlawful and invalid".

The referendum will have no legal or political repercussions, and therefore it is not valid, Kosovo's assembly released.

The assembly "encourages the Serb community in the northern part of the country to engage in the implementation of the comprehensive proposal for resolving the status of Kosovo", the release reads.

It continues to say that the referendum "in the northern part of the country" was organized by "parallel structures financed and administered by Serbia", and claims that the plebiscite was directed against "the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo".

The release adds that "such non-institutional and illegal events are detrimental to continuing efforts of the Republic of Kosovo to integrate the Serb community into Kosovo's institutions".

Serbs north of the Ibar River form the majority population and reject the authority of the government in Priština, as well as the ethnic Albanian unilateral proclamation of independence made in early 2008.