"Status neutrality condition for Kosovo elections"

BELGRADE State officials have informed representatives of the international community that status neutrality is a key condition for the coming local election in Kosovo. This is according to advisor to the Serbian president Marko Djuric, who spoke over the weekend. "Status neutrality condition for Kosovo elections" "The election in Kosovo must and can be only status neutral, because only a status-neutral election can produce status-neutral municipalities, and only status-neutral municipalities can satisfy the Serbian state and national interest in Kosovo-Metohija," Djuric said in an interview for Tanjug. He said Serbia insists that "the symbols of the false state of Kosovo" be removed from the ballots, in line with the implementation plan for the agreement on normalization of relations which Belgrade and Pristina signed in Brussels on April 19. Djuric said the international community is fully aware of the necessity of meeting all conditions for a status-neutral election. We expect the matter will be settled by August 27, when Serbian and Kosovo prime ministers Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci are set to meet in Brussels, he said. "The issue of insignia and false symbols cannot be used to barter in the negotiations, because status neutrality is a prerequisite for the election," said Djuric. Talking about the Kosovo Serbs' participation in the election, Djuric said the most important task is forming a single list with candidates from both the north and the south of the province. The list should be formed in line with state rather than partisan interests, because the goal is to enable the Serb community to establish control of the municipalities where it has a majority, he said. Djuric said a great responsibility lies with the political parties and other actors in the local communities who will choose the candidates to represent them in the election. According to Djuric, the politicians in Belgrade will only get involved in cases where it is harder to find a good candidate. "We are in the midst of a struggle to form a community of Serb municipalities and legitimate Serb institutions in Kosovo," said Djuric. "At this stage in our fight for the survival of our people in Kosovo, when we are moving from the gradual death of our institutions to the establishment of new ones, I think all political actors must act responsibly and stand united," concluded the president's advisor. (Tanjug) Tanjug

"Status neutrality condition for Kosovo elections"

"The election in Kosovo must and can be only status neutral, because only a status-neutral election can produce status-neutral municipalities, and only status-neutral municipalities can satisfy the Serbian state and national interest in Kosovo-Metohija," Đurić said in an interview for Tanjug.

He said Serbia insists that "the symbols of the false state of Kosovo" be removed from the ballots, in line with the implementation plan for the agreement on normalization of relations which Belgrade and Priština signed in Brussels on April 19.

Đurić said the international community is fully aware of the necessity of meeting all conditions for a status-neutral election.

We expect the matter will be settled by August 27, when Serbian and Kosovo prime ministers Ivica Dačić and Hashim Thaci are set to meet in Brussels, he said.

"The issue of insignia and false symbols cannot be used to barter in the negotiations, because status neutrality is a prerequisite for the election," said Đurić.

Talking about the Kosovo Serbs' participation in the election, Đurić said the most important task is forming a single list with candidates from both the north and the south of the province.

The list should be formed in line with state rather than partisan interests, because the goal is to enable the Serb community to establish control of the municipalities where it has a majority, he said.

Đurić said a great responsibility lies with the political parties and other actors in the local communities who will choose the candidates to represent them in the election.

According to Đurić, the politicians in Belgrade will only get involved in cases where it is harder to find a good candidate.

"We are in the midst of a struggle to form a community of Serb municipalities and legitimate Serb institutions in Kosovo," said Đurić.

"At this stage in our fight for the survival of our people in Kosovo, when we are moving from the gradual death of our institutions to the establishment of new ones, I think all political actors must act responsibly and stand united," concluded the president's advisor.