27

Sunday, 15.11.2009.

09:30

Polls close in local Kosovo elections

Local elections were held on the territory of Kosovo on Sunday, the first to be organized by the Kosovo Albanian institutions in Priština.

Izvor: B92

Polls close in local Kosovo elections IMAGE SOURCE
IMAGE DESCRIPTION

27 Komentari

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Milan

pre 14 godina

Now what do we have here? Another imaginary genocide by albanians...300.000 displaced? like those 800.000 dead albanians from Kosovo? LOL!! Get it over guys greater Albania is a doomed project...
(Nikos, 16 November 2009 16:24)
Yeap my friend... According Albanian propaganda Greece probably made genocide against Albanians...

Nikos

pre 14 godina

Denis
"Look who is talking? Europe kept silent when greeks ethnically cleansed 300,000 chams albanians from Chameria in 1945, today's northern Greece"

Now what do we have here? Another imaginary genocide by albanians...300.000 displaced? like those 800.000 dead albanians from Kosovo? LOL!! Get it over guys greater Albania is a doomed project...

sj

pre 14 godina

i am proud of Kosovo/a and proud of all the people that have chosen to vote today, to help make a difference for the future. it's a good day for us, for the people of kosovo/a!

roberto
frisco
(roberto, 15 November 2009 18:59)

Roberto the Albanians can vote until the cows come home and things will not change, Belgrade has to agree no matter if the entire world recognizes Kosovo. I keep telling your brothers that this the west “jerking your chain” because they cannot deliver anything else, no jobs, no future and so they give you a little hope so you don’t completely turn on them. Your local politicians, such as Thaci, know this, but they are paid handsomely to play the game and when the time is right they will leave for the west while you will still be in Kosovo with nothing.

Get your US/EU friends to open Wal-mart stores, new offices for Microsoft, Allianz and so on. Then come back and tell me I was wrong.

Hawk

pre 14 godina

As long as Albanians have Thachi, Haradinai, Ceku & other KLA warlords as their leaders and politicians, Kosovo cannot even think about taking the first half-step into democracy.
So Serbs - take your future into your own hands. Don't let Albanians rule over your and the lives of your children.
Be Strog!

Denis

pre 14 godina

The EU sponsored local elections in Kosovo could not possibly have any legitimacy since they exclude the participation of more than 200000 ethnically cleansedSerbs.Furthermore,the EU refuse to aknowledge the
existence of those persons because it will alter the image of the kosovo Albanians
and make them look bad.

I also think that the Serbian
goverment should stop sending confused signals to its citizens for the sake of some distant EU membership.

They should stick by the validity of UN resolution 1244.The declaration of independence was carried out in the face of a UN Security Council resolution and in conflict with international law. Until that changes, the Serbs in Kosovo have every right to peaceful resistance
and that means abstaining from EU-Albanian machinations
to legitimatise the occupation.
(Leonidas, 15 November 2009 11:46)

Look who is talking? Europe kept silent when greeks ethnically cleansed 300,000 chams albanians from Chameria in 1945, today's northern Greece. Maybe they did it to make you look good, and you got away with it cause UN did not have the position it has today.

Can you tell me which part of international law sanctions what the Greek gov did to this population in 1945?

As a representative of a state who has been the first in the Balkans to apply the ethnic cleansing, and has gotten most free rides to EU and EU aid, you should be the last to speak about international law.

Jan Andersen (DK)

pre 14 godina

From the article: "Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanović commented this evening on the elections to say that a "small number of Serbs voted in the illegitimate local elections called in the province by the temporary institutions"."

And Ron echoed that in his post: "Well, hope no one takes part in these illegal elections."

See - that is something I don't understand. How can an election be illegitimate or illegal?

I can understand that you, the Serbian government, the local Serbs, or anyone else for that matter, can view the representatives that emerges from such elections as illegitimate or illegal representatives, and you can choose to ignore those representatives completely.

But that does not make the elections illegal.
--

Michael J.

pre 14 godina

I would like to thank all Kosova Serbs for voting in today's election. Together we can make Kosova a truly Democratic state that neither of our ethnic groups have had the privilege of living in up till now.
And of course, thank you Kosova Serbs for helping Kosova gain another recognition, this time from your former country.

Milan

pre 14 godina

The independence of Kosovo is real and Kosovo Serbs did legitimize this 100% by voting today. These elections were organized by Kosovo institutions and I am glad that finally K-Serbs have realized that Belegrade is playing games with them and don't really care.
(kosovaman, 15 November 2009 21:35)
???? Nobody nothing recognized. North - completly ignored this pseudoelections, in Novo Brdo and Štrpce - voted probably mostly Albanians, and in other areas - voted small minority (10-15% - only becouse local Serbs need take power on this territories from Albanian hands). Thats all... I remember - one-two days before - "non-government organisation expected that 30% K-Serbs will vote". No way - mayby 10% of all K-Serbs voted in these pseudoelections and most of them in regions where they have no power.

Ron

pre 14 godina

i am proud of Kosovo/a and proud of all the people that have chosen to vote today, to help make a difference for the future. it's a good day for us, for the people of kosovo/a!

roberto
frisco
(roberto, 15 November 2009 18:59)

My friend. All in Kosovo should do their best for the future of Kosovo. Indeed. Their province. But all should also work for the future of their country. And that country is Serbia!

Please accept that fact. And live in peace!

Ataman

pre 14 godina

as i mentioned, others, such as helsinki committe belgrade (ms biserko) are in kosovo/a trying to get out the vote in serb areas, and god bless them and their work.
(roberto, 15 November 2009 18:59)

No problem on that, even that I am not sure about Ms. Biserko and not everything she does gets my approval automatically, to say the least. Whatever works out.

You know what, let's imagine an other thing.
Imagine for a moment, I am living in Pristina. On regular basis I am traveling to Belgrade and trying to convince Albanians who live in Belgrade, that Thaci & co are not the best in Albanian history.

My $1 million question is:

What do you think, what would be underneath of my car?
Will be it Semtex? C4? Maybe Demex? How soon? Within a day or would "they" wait longer?

So far, Ms. Biserko did not find anything of that stuff under her car - and she is active for a while. And Mr. Pukanic did not live long enough to tell us more details, what was under his car. "Thanks" to Duke of Gangsters, Djukanovic... the new-found friend of "democracy" and Drenica clan.

kosovaman

pre 14 godina

My friend. All in Kosovo should do their best for the future of Kosovo. Indeed. Their province. But all should also work for the future of their country. And that country is Serbia!

Please accept that fact. And live in peace!
(Ron, 15 November 2009 21:14)

The independence of Kosovo is real and Kosovo Serbs did legitimize this 100% by voting today. These elections were organized by Kosovo institutions and I am glad that finally K-Serbs have realized that Belegrade is playing games with them and don't really care.

Niall O'Doherty

pre 14 godina

CEC now has the results for up to 15:30: says 33% have voted so far.Serb majority areas: Klotok 14%,Ranilug 9.2%, Gracanica 14.3%,Sterpce 23.5%. Serbs municipalities in the north voted less than 3%. This is a major split between the minority of Serbs who live in the north of Kosovo and the rest of them who are scattered throughout
(BalkanUpdate, 15 November 2009 17:40)

There is no split between the Serbs who are living in the North and those living in the enclaves. They are enduring a living hell every day in their ghettos and have no freedom of movement. They face daily harrassment, assault, threathened with their utilities being cut off and their places of worship destroyed by a criminal fascist KLA regime. People like Sonja Biserko who Roberto wishes Divine Blessig from the Almighty are an absolute disgrace to Serbia and its people. These 'councils' and 'mayors' who are elected in these sham elections will not be able to take up their posts as Belgrade already has its institutions in place in Kosovo. These sham mayors and councils will be ignored and sidelined.

Shut up and stop trying to speak on behalf of a people and nation that you wish nothing but misery and their ultimate destruction. You and your ilk are nothing but shameless hypocrites.

roberto

pre 14 godina

as i mentioned, others, such as helsinki committe belgrade (ms biserko) are in kosovo/a trying to get out the vote in serb areas, and god bless them and their work.

nobody HAS to vote, nor do we need to beg and plead for them to do so. however if they want some control over their lives (regardless of ethnicity) then it is a damn good idea.

of course voting is only one part of the democratic process -- we've all seen the elections over and over again that just continue the same ole (as in the 90s) -- there has to be more -- grass roots organizing, negotiating, respect (and implementation) of the civil/human rights of all (regardless of ethnicity or anything else.) a respect for democratic institutions, and some kind of decent living conditions for the potential voters. otherwise it is just a sham, anywhere in the world.

i am proud of Kosovo/a and proud of all the people that have chosen to vote today, to help make a difference for the future. it's a good day for us, for the people of kosovo/a!

roberto
frisco

BalkanUpdate

pre 14 godina

Various parties are reporting that 30% of the electorate has voted by 2pm local time. Central Election Commission says 15 % by 11:30 am.

Serb majority municipalities until 11:30 am: Klotok 6.1%, Ranilug 3%, Gracanica 8.5%, Sterpce 10.5%. Albanian areas average 16%.

Serbs in the North of Kosovo, 35% of overall Serb population in Kosovo, appear to have boycotted the election. Less than 3% by 11:30am.

ajvalija 101

pre 14 godina

BalkanUpdate i'm all for people making themselves feel better so go ahead. but seriously how do you think it helps albanians in their black hole frozen conflict if 5% of serbs in some starved ghetto with electiricty cut off vote or dont vote? Dont forget we hold the key to kosovo. And we threw it away until you albanians start behaving and get back to negotiations. sober up people. it'll be 2 years soon since you tried illegal secession. it failed and it froze. wake up.
And wt.. is klotok?

BalkanUpdate

pre 14 godina

CEC now has the results for up to 15:30: says 33% have voted so far.Serb majority areas: Klotok 14%,Ranilug 9.2%, Gracanica 14.3%,Sterpce 23.5%. Serbs municipalities in the north voted less than 3%. This is a major split between the minority of Serbs who live in the north of Kosovo and the rest of them who are scattered throughout

pss

pre 14 godina

Ron,The US and the EU should finally (!) start fully implemending 1244.

The deal was made in 1999. Don't change the rules while playing.

You say everyone should implement the rules of 1244, do you mean totally or just the part you like?
I believe the main crust of 1244 and responsibilities is the establishment of an autonomous (without Serbian influence) democratic instituions and transferring authorities to them this is to include the establishment of elections.
Now whether you agree that the established govt of Kosovo is of an independent state or a provisional govt the elections are legal and all people in Kosovo should participate.
Unless your motivation is other than following resolution 1244 that is.
By your post and previous ones I think your motivations ring clear.

BalkanUpdate

pre 14 godina

Gazeta Express reports that it has seen a considerable number of Serbs voting in several voting station it visited, including Gracanica. It quotes Fatmir Gashi, one of the commissioners for the area as saying " There is considerable interest so far. We didn't expect this kind of participation this early on".
"Democracy in Action"reports the process is going smoothly.

Milan

pre 14 godina

Are you suggesting to Serb minority not to run their own lives in Kosova? Shame on you!
To me personally it doesn't bother whether the Serbs go or don't go in local elections. What it does concern me is that the Serbs whom did not come out to vote, will put the blame on Albanians for not having water, electricity, jobs etc etc. As soon the election are over today, the next step for the central government in Pristina is to assert its authority in all territory of Kosova starting imposing visa entry for all people holding foreign passport including Serbian unless a mutual agreement is reached between the two states. That would be the start.
(EA, 15 November 2009 14:34)

EA - one important fact - Serbs are MAJORITY of Republic of Serbia. Albanians are minority.

EA

pre 14 godina

To Ron and those Serbs whom are pleading to local Serbs in Kosova not to go voting.

Are you suggesting to Serb minority not to run their own lives in Kosova? Shame on you!
To me personally it doesn't bother whether the Serbs go or don't go in local elections. What it does concern me is that the Serbs whom did not come out to vote, will put the blame on Albanians for not having water, electricity, jobs etc etc. As soon the election are over today, the next step for the central government in Pristina is to assert its authority in all territory of Kosova starting imposing visa entry for all people holding foreign passport including Serbian unless a mutual agreement is reached between the two states. That would be the start.

Zoran

pre 14 godina

The elections are being monitored by several international organizations, including a delegation of the European Parliament led by Doris Pack.
--
Look, it's fairly easy to rig an election these days. Just look at the recent example in Afghanistan. Doris Pack is likely to Pack the ballot boxes full of fake Serbian votes to ensure those three new municipalities remain Serbian and so they can claim Serbians are supporting them.

Can you imagine the problems if ethnic Albanians rule these parallel municipalities? We Serbians allow ethnic Albanians to have parallel institutions but they don't like our legitimate ones.

Voting will be rigged, no doubt about it.

Leonidas

pre 14 godina

The EU sponsored local elections in Kosovo could not possibly have any legitimacy since they exclude the participation of more than 200000 ethnically cleansedSerbs.Furthermore,the EU refuse to aknowledge the
existence of those persons because it will alter the image of the kosovo Albanians
and make them look bad.

I also think that the Serbian
goverment should stop sending confused signals to its citizens for the sake of some distant EU membership.

They should stick by the validity of UN resolution 1244.The declaration of independence was carried out in the face of a UN Security Council resolution and in conflict with international law. Until that changes, the Serbs in Kosovo have every right to peaceful resistance
and that means abstaining from EU-Albanian machinations
to legitimatise the occupation.

Ron

pre 14 godina

Well, hope no one takes part in these illegal elections. Please do not legitimize illegal Kosovo independence.

The US and the EU should finally (!) start fully implemending 1244.

The deal was made in 1999. Don't change the rules while playing.

Again: please do not vote in these elections.

To all in Kosovo: the free world is behind you. Don't worry. At the end international law will prevail!

Peace to all!

And to all who sing the song of 'fast integration of Kosovo in EU':

(1) Most in Western Europe really do not want new members the coming years.

(2) A lot of people in Western Europe really do not want muslim states entering EU. (I do not agree with them).

(3) EU should protect international law. Not breaking it. And as 1244 is still valid...

(4) Kosovo is like a third world country in Europe. So even if it becomes a state (by a MUTUAL agreed deal) it will take at least 20 years before it can enter EU economically!

Ron

pre 14 godina

Well, hope no one takes part in these illegal elections. Please do not legitimize illegal Kosovo independence.

The US and the EU should finally (!) start fully implemending 1244.

The deal was made in 1999. Don't change the rules while playing.

Again: please do not vote in these elections.

To all in Kosovo: the free world is behind you. Don't worry. At the end international law will prevail!

Peace to all!

And to all who sing the song of 'fast integration of Kosovo in EU':

(1) Most in Western Europe really do not want new members the coming years.

(2) A lot of people in Western Europe really do not want muslim states entering EU. (I do not agree with them).

(3) EU should protect international law. Not breaking it. And as 1244 is still valid...

(4) Kosovo is like a third world country in Europe. So even if it becomes a state (by a MUTUAL agreed deal) it will take at least 20 years before it can enter EU economically!

Zoran

pre 14 godina

The elections are being monitored by several international organizations, including a delegation of the European Parliament led by Doris Pack.
--
Look, it's fairly easy to rig an election these days. Just look at the recent example in Afghanistan. Doris Pack is likely to Pack the ballot boxes full of fake Serbian votes to ensure those three new municipalities remain Serbian and so they can claim Serbians are supporting them.

Can you imagine the problems if ethnic Albanians rule these parallel municipalities? We Serbians allow ethnic Albanians to have parallel institutions but they don't like our legitimate ones.

Voting will be rigged, no doubt about it.

Milan

pre 14 godina

Are you suggesting to Serb minority not to run their own lives in Kosova? Shame on you!
To me personally it doesn't bother whether the Serbs go or don't go in local elections. What it does concern me is that the Serbs whom did not come out to vote, will put the blame on Albanians for not having water, electricity, jobs etc etc. As soon the election are over today, the next step for the central government in Pristina is to assert its authority in all territory of Kosova starting imposing visa entry for all people holding foreign passport including Serbian unless a mutual agreement is reached between the two states. That would be the start.
(EA, 15 November 2009 14:34)

EA - one important fact - Serbs are MAJORITY of Republic of Serbia. Albanians are minority.

Leonidas

pre 14 godina

The EU sponsored local elections in Kosovo could not possibly have any legitimacy since they exclude the participation of more than 200000 ethnically cleansedSerbs.Furthermore,the EU refuse to aknowledge the
existence of those persons because it will alter the image of the kosovo Albanians
and make them look bad.

I also think that the Serbian
goverment should stop sending confused signals to its citizens for the sake of some distant EU membership.

They should stick by the validity of UN resolution 1244.The declaration of independence was carried out in the face of a UN Security Council resolution and in conflict with international law. Until that changes, the Serbs in Kosovo have every right to peaceful resistance
and that means abstaining from EU-Albanian machinations
to legitimatise the occupation.

BalkanUpdate

pre 14 godina

Gazeta Express reports that it has seen a considerable number of Serbs voting in several voting station it visited, including Gracanica. It quotes Fatmir Gashi, one of the commissioners for the area as saying " There is considerable interest so far. We didn't expect this kind of participation this early on".
"Democracy in Action"reports the process is going smoothly.

EA

pre 14 godina

To Ron and those Serbs whom are pleading to local Serbs in Kosova not to go voting.

Are you suggesting to Serb minority not to run their own lives in Kosova? Shame on you!
To me personally it doesn't bother whether the Serbs go or don't go in local elections. What it does concern me is that the Serbs whom did not come out to vote, will put the blame on Albanians for not having water, electricity, jobs etc etc. As soon the election are over today, the next step for the central government in Pristina is to assert its authority in all territory of Kosova starting imposing visa entry for all people holding foreign passport including Serbian unless a mutual agreement is reached between the two states. That would be the start.

kosovaman

pre 14 godina

My friend. All in Kosovo should do their best for the future of Kosovo. Indeed. Their province. But all should also work for the future of their country. And that country is Serbia!

Please accept that fact. And live in peace!
(Ron, 15 November 2009 21:14)

The independence of Kosovo is real and Kosovo Serbs did legitimize this 100% by voting today. These elections were organized by Kosovo institutions and I am glad that finally K-Serbs have realized that Belegrade is playing games with them and don't really care.

BalkanUpdate

pre 14 godina

CEC now has the results for up to 15:30: says 33% have voted so far.Serb majority areas: Klotok 14%,Ranilug 9.2%, Gracanica 14.3%,Sterpce 23.5%. Serbs municipalities in the north voted less than 3%. This is a major split between the minority of Serbs who live in the north of Kosovo and the rest of them who are scattered throughout

Ataman

pre 14 godina

as i mentioned, others, such as helsinki committe belgrade (ms biserko) are in kosovo/a trying to get out the vote in serb areas, and god bless them and their work.
(roberto, 15 November 2009 18:59)

No problem on that, even that I am not sure about Ms. Biserko and not everything she does gets my approval automatically, to say the least. Whatever works out.

You know what, let's imagine an other thing.
Imagine for a moment, I am living in Pristina. On regular basis I am traveling to Belgrade and trying to convince Albanians who live in Belgrade, that Thaci & co are not the best in Albanian history.

My $1 million question is:

What do you think, what would be underneath of my car?
Will be it Semtex? C4? Maybe Demex? How soon? Within a day or would "they" wait longer?

So far, Ms. Biserko did not find anything of that stuff under her car - and she is active for a while. And Mr. Pukanic did not live long enough to tell us more details, what was under his car. "Thanks" to Duke of Gangsters, Djukanovic... the new-found friend of "democracy" and Drenica clan.

ajvalija 101

pre 14 godina

BalkanUpdate i'm all for people making themselves feel better so go ahead. but seriously how do you think it helps albanians in their black hole frozen conflict if 5% of serbs in some starved ghetto with electiricty cut off vote or dont vote? Dont forget we hold the key to kosovo. And we threw it away until you albanians start behaving and get back to negotiations. sober up people. it'll be 2 years soon since you tried illegal secession. it failed and it froze. wake up.
And wt.. is klotok?

Milan

pre 14 godina

The independence of Kosovo is real and Kosovo Serbs did legitimize this 100% by voting today. These elections were organized by Kosovo institutions and I am glad that finally K-Serbs have realized that Belegrade is playing games with them and don't really care.
(kosovaman, 15 November 2009 21:35)
???? Nobody nothing recognized. North - completly ignored this pseudoelections, in Novo Brdo and Štrpce - voted probably mostly Albanians, and in other areas - voted small minority (10-15% - only becouse local Serbs need take power on this territories from Albanian hands). Thats all... I remember - one-two days before - "non-government organisation expected that 30% K-Serbs will vote". No way - mayby 10% of all K-Serbs voted in these pseudoelections and most of them in regions where they have no power.

pss

pre 14 godina

Ron,The US and the EU should finally (!) start fully implemending 1244.

The deal was made in 1999. Don't change the rules while playing.

You say everyone should implement the rules of 1244, do you mean totally or just the part you like?
I believe the main crust of 1244 and responsibilities is the establishment of an autonomous (without Serbian influence) democratic instituions and transferring authorities to them this is to include the establishment of elections.
Now whether you agree that the established govt of Kosovo is of an independent state or a provisional govt the elections are legal and all people in Kosovo should participate.
Unless your motivation is other than following resolution 1244 that is.
By your post and previous ones I think your motivations ring clear.

BalkanUpdate

pre 14 godina

Various parties are reporting that 30% of the electorate has voted by 2pm local time. Central Election Commission says 15 % by 11:30 am.

Serb majority municipalities until 11:30 am: Klotok 6.1%, Ranilug 3%, Gracanica 8.5%, Sterpce 10.5%. Albanian areas average 16%.

Serbs in the North of Kosovo, 35% of overall Serb population in Kosovo, appear to have boycotted the election. Less than 3% by 11:30am.

Niall O'Doherty

pre 14 godina

CEC now has the results for up to 15:30: says 33% have voted so far.Serb majority areas: Klotok 14%,Ranilug 9.2%, Gracanica 14.3%,Sterpce 23.5%. Serbs municipalities in the north voted less than 3%. This is a major split between the minority of Serbs who live in the north of Kosovo and the rest of them who are scattered throughout
(BalkanUpdate, 15 November 2009 17:40)

There is no split between the Serbs who are living in the North and those living in the enclaves. They are enduring a living hell every day in their ghettos and have no freedom of movement. They face daily harrassment, assault, threathened with their utilities being cut off and their places of worship destroyed by a criminal fascist KLA regime. People like Sonja Biserko who Roberto wishes Divine Blessig from the Almighty are an absolute disgrace to Serbia and its people. These 'councils' and 'mayors' who are elected in these sham elections will not be able to take up their posts as Belgrade already has its institutions in place in Kosovo. These sham mayors and councils will be ignored and sidelined.

Shut up and stop trying to speak on behalf of a people and nation that you wish nothing but misery and their ultimate destruction. You and your ilk are nothing but shameless hypocrites.

Ron

pre 14 godina

i am proud of Kosovo/a and proud of all the people that have chosen to vote today, to help make a difference for the future. it's a good day for us, for the people of kosovo/a!

roberto
frisco
(roberto, 15 November 2009 18:59)

My friend. All in Kosovo should do their best for the future of Kosovo. Indeed. Their province. But all should also work for the future of their country. And that country is Serbia!

Please accept that fact. And live in peace!

roberto

pre 14 godina

as i mentioned, others, such as helsinki committe belgrade (ms biserko) are in kosovo/a trying to get out the vote in serb areas, and god bless them and their work.

nobody HAS to vote, nor do we need to beg and plead for them to do so. however if they want some control over their lives (regardless of ethnicity) then it is a damn good idea.

of course voting is only one part of the democratic process -- we've all seen the elections over and over again that just continue the same ole (as in the 90s) -- there has to be more -- grass roots organizing, negotiating, respect (and implementation) of the civil/human rights of all (regardless of ethnicity or anything else.) a respect for democratic institutions, and some kind of decent living conditions for the potential voters. otherwise it is just a sham, anywhere in the world.

i am proud of Kosovo/a and proud of all the people that have chosen to vote today, to help make a difference for the future. it's a good day for us, for the people of kosovo/a!

roberto
frisco

Hawk

pre 14 godina

As long as Albanians have Thachi, Haradinai, Ceku & other KLA warlords as their leaders and politicians, Kosovo cannot even think about taking the first half-step into democracy.
So Serbs - take your future into your own hands. Don't let Albanians rule over your and the lives of your children.
Be Strog!

Michael J.

pre 14 godina

I would like to thank all Kosova Serbs for voting in today's election. Together we can make Kosova a truly Democratic state that neither of our ethnic groups have had the privilege of living in up till now.
And of course, thank you Kosova Serbs for helping Kosova gain another recognition, this time from your former country.

Denis

pre 14 godina

The EU sponsored local elections in Kosovo could not possibly have any legitimacy since they exclude the participation of more than 200000 ethnically cleansedSerbs.Furthermore,the EU refuse to aknowledge the
existence of those persons because it will alter the image of the kosovo Albanians
and make them look bad.

I also think that the Serbian
goverment should stop sending confused signals to its citizens for the sake of some distant EU membership.

They should stick by the validity of UN resolution 1244.The declaration of independence was carried out in the face of a UN Security Council resolution and in conflict with international law. Until that changes, the Serbs in Kosovo have every right to peaceful resistance
and that means abstaining from EU-Albanian machinations
to legitimatise the occupation.
(Leonidas, 15 November 2009 11:46)

Look who is talking? Europe kept silent when greeks ethnically cleansed 300,000 chams albanians from Chameria in 1945, today's northern Greece. Maybe they did it to make you look good, and you got away with it cause UN did not have the position it has today.

Can you tell me which part of international law sanctions what the Greek gov did to this population in 1945?

As a representative of a state who has been the first in the Balkans to apply the ethnic cleansing, and has gotten most free rides to EU and EU aid, you should be the last to speak about international law.

sj

pre 14 godina

i am proud of Kosovo/a and proud of all the people that have chosen to vote today, to help make a difference for the future. it's a good day for us, for the people of kosovo/a!

roberto
frisco
(roberto, 15 November 2009 18:59)

Roberto the Albanians can vote until the cows come home and things will not change, Belgrade has to agree no matter if the entire world recognizes Kosovo. I keep telling your brothers that this the west “jerking your chain” because they cannot deliver anything else, no jobs, no future and so they give you a little hope so you don’t completely turn on them. Your local politicians, such as Thaci, know this, but they are paid handsomely to play the game and when the time is right they will leave for the west while you will still be in Kosovo with nothing.

Get your US/EU friends to open Wal-mart stores, new offices for Microsoft, Allianz and so on. Then come back and tell me I was wrong.

Nikos

pre 14 godina

Denis
"Look who is talking? Europe kept silent when greeks ethnically cleansed 300,000 chams albanians from Chameria in 1945, today's northern Greece"

Now what do we have here? Another imaginary genocide by albanians...300.000 displaced? like those 800.000 dead albanians from Kosovo? LOL!! Get it over guys greater Albania is a doomed project...

Milan

pre 14 godina

Now what do we have here? Another imaginary genocide by albanians...300.000 displaced? like those 800.000 dead albanians from Kosovo? LOL!! Get it over guys greater Albania is a doomed project...
(Nikos, 16 November 2009 16:24)
Yeap my friend... According Albanian propaganda Greece probably made genocide against Albanians...

Jan Andersen (DK)

pre 14 godina

From the article: "Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanović commented this evening on the elections to say that a "small number of Serbs voted in the illegitimate local elections called in the province by the temporary institutions"."

And Ron echoed that in his post: "Well, hope no one takes part in these illegal elections."

See - that is something I don't understand. How can an election be illegitimate or illegal?

I can understand that you, the Serbian government, the local Serbs, or anyone else for that matter, can view the representatives that emerges from such elections as illegitimate or illegal representatives, and you can choose to ignore those representatives completely.

But that does not make the elections illegal.
--

Ron

pre 14 godina

Well, hope no one takes part in these illegal elections. Please do not legitimize illegal Kosovo independence.

The US and the EU should finally (!) start fully implemending 1244.

The deal was made in 1999. Don't change the rules while playing.

Again: please do not vote in these elections.

To all in Kosovo: the free world is behind you. Don't worry. At the end international law will prevail!

Peace to all!

And to all who sing the song of 'fast integration of Kosovo in EU':

(1) Most in Western Europe really do not want new members the coming years.

(2) A lot of people in Western Europe really do not want muslim states entering EU. (I do not agree with them).

(3) EU should protect international law. Not breaking it. And as 1244 is still valid...

(4) Kosovo is like a third world country in Europe. So even if it becomes a state (by a MUTUAL agreed deal) it will take at least 20 years before it can enter EU economically!

Michael J.

pre 14 godina

I would like to thank all Kosova Serbs for voting in today's election. Together we can make Kosova a truly Democratic state that neither of our ethnic groups have had the privilege of living in up till now.
And of course, thank you Kosova Serbs for helping Kosova gain another recognition, this time from your former country.

Leonidas

pre 14 godina

The EU sponsored local elections in Kosovo could not possibly have any legitimacy since they exclude the participation of more than 200000 ethnically cleansedSerbs.Furthermore,the EU refuse to aknowledge the
existence of those persons because it will alter the image of the kosovo Albanians
and make them look bad.

I also think that the Serbian
goverment should stop sending confused signals to its citizens for the sake of some distant EU membership.

They should stick by the validity of UN resolution 1244.The declaration of independence was carried out in the face of a UN Security Council resolution and in conflict with international law. Until that changes, the Serbs in Kosovo have every right to peaceful resistance
and that means abstaining from EU-Albanian machinations
to legitimatise the occupation.

EA

pre 14 godina

To Ron and those Serbs whom are pleading to local Serbs in Kosova not to go voting.

Are you suggesting to Serb minority not to run their own lives in Kosova? Shame on you!
To me personally it doesn't bother whether the Serbs go or don't go in local elections. What it does concern me is that the Serbs whom did not come out to vote, will put the blame on Albanians for not having water, electricity, jobs etc etc. As soon the election are over today, the next step for the central government in Pristina is to assert its authority in all territory of Kosova starting imposing visa entry for all people holding foreign passport including Serbian unless a mutual agreement is reached between the two states. That would be the start.

Milan

pre 14 godina

Are you suggesting to Serb minority not to run their own lives in Kosova? Shame on you!
To me personally it doesn't bother whether the Serbs go or don't go in local elections. What it does concern me is that the Serbs whom did not come out to vote, will put the blame on Albanians for not having water, electricity, jobs etc etc. As soon the election are over today, the next step for the central government in Pristina is to assert its authority in all territory of Kosova starting imposing visa entry for all people holding foreign passport including Serbian unless a mutual agreement is reached between the two states. That would be the start.
(EA, 15 November 2009 14:34)

EA - one important fact - Serbs are MAJORITY of Republic of Serbia. Albanians are minority.

BalkanUpdate

pre 14 godina

Gazeta Express reports that it has seen a considerable number of Serbs voting in several voting station it visited, including Gracanica. It quotes Fatmir Gashi, one of the commissioners for the area as saying " There is considerable interest so far. We didn't expect this kind of participation this early on".
"Democracy in Action"reports the process is going smoothly.

roberto

pre 14 godina

as i mentioned, others, such as helsinki committe belgrade (ms biserko) are in kosovo/a trying to get out the vote in serb areas, and god bless them and their work.

nobody HAS to vote, nor do we need to beg and plead for them to do so. however if they want some control over their lives (regardless of ethnicity) then it is a damn good idea.

of course voting is only one part of the democratic process -- we've all seen the elections over and over again that just continue the same ole (as in the 90s) -- there has to be more -- grass roots organizing, negotiating, respect (and implementation) of the civil/human rights of all (regardless of ethnicity or anything else.) a respect for democratic institutions, and some kind of decent living conditions for the potential voters. otherwise it is just a sham, anywhere in the world.

i am proud of Kosovo/a and proud of all the people that have chosen to vote today, to help make a difference for the future. it's a good day for us, for the people of kosovo/a!

roberto
frisco

Zoran

pre 14 godina

The elections are being monitored by several international organizations, including a delegation of the European Parliament led by Doris Pack.
--
Look, it's fairly easy to rig an election these days. Just look at the recent example in Afghanistan. Doris Pack is likely to Pack the ballot boxes full of fake Serbian votes to ensure those three new municipalities remain Serbian and so they can claim Serbians are supporting them.

Can you imagine the problems if ethnic Albanians rule these parallel municipalities? We Serbians allow ethnic Albanians to have parallel institutions but they don't like our legitimate ones.

Voting will be rigged, no doubt about it.

ajvalija 101

pre 14 godina

BalkanUpdate i'm all for people making themselves feel better so go ahead. but seriously how do you think it helps albanians in their black hole frozen conflict if 5% of serbs in some starved ghetto with electiricty cut off vote or dont vote? Dont forget we hold the key to kosovo. And we threw it away until you albanians start behaving and get back to negotiations. sober up people. it'll be 2 years soon since you tried illegal secession. it failed and it froze. wake up.
And wt.. is klotok?

kosovaman

pre 14 godina

My friend. All in Kosovo should do their best for the future of Kosovo. Indeed. Their province. But all should also work for the future of their country. And that country is Serbia!

Please accept that fact. And live in peace!
(Ron, 15 November 2009 21:14)

The independence of Kosovo is real and Kosovo Serbs did legitimize this 100% by voting today. These elections were organized by Kosovo institutions and I am glad that finally K-Serbs have realized that Belegrade is playing games with them and don't really care.

Niall O'Doherty

pre 14 godina

CEC now has the results for up to 15:30: says 33% have voted so far.Serb majority areas: Klotok 14%,Ranilug 9.2%, Gracanica 14.3%,Sterpce 23.5%. Serbs municipalities in the north voted less than 3%. This is a major split between the minority of Serbs who live in the north of Kosovo and the rest of them who are scattered throughout
(BalkanUpdate, 15 November 2009 17:40)

There is no split between the Serbs who are living in the North and those living in the enclaves. They are enduring a living hell every day in their ghettos and have no freedom of movement. They face daily harrassment, assault, threathened with their utilities being cut off and their places of worship destroyed by a criminal fascist KLA regime. People like Sonja Biserko who Roberto wishes Divine Blessig from the Almighty are an absolute disgrace to Serbia and its people. These 'councils' and 'mayors' who are elected in these sham elections will not be able to take up their posts as Belgrade already has its institutions in place in Kosovo. These sham mayors and councils will be ignored and sidelined.

Shut up and stop trying to speak on behalf of a people and nation that you wish nothing but misery and their ultimate destruction. You and your ilk are nothing but shameless hypocrites.

Ron

pre 14 godina

i am proud of Kosovo/a and proud of all the people that have chosen to vote today, to help make a difference for the future. it's a good day for us, for the people of kosovo/a!

roberto
frisco
(roberto, 15 November 2009 18:59)

My friend. All in Kosovo should do their best for the future of Kosovo. Indeed. Their province. But all should also work for the future of their country. And that country is Serbia!

Please accept that fact. And live in peace!

pss

pre 14 godina

Ron,The US and the EU should finally (!) start fully implemending 1244.

The deal was made in 1999. Don't change the rules while playing.

You say everyone should implement the rules of 1244, do you mean totally or just the part you like?
I believe the main crust of 1244 and responsibilities is the establishment of an autonomous (without Serbian influence) democratic instituions and transferring authorities to them this is to include the establishment of elections.
Now whether you agree that the established govt of Kosovo is of an independent state or a provisional govt the elections are legal and all people in Kosovo should participate.
Unless your motivation is other than following resolution 1244 that is.
By your post and previous ones I think your motivations ring clear.

Milan

pre 14 godina

The independence of Kosovo is real and Kosovo Serbs did legitimize this 100% by voting today. These elections were organized by Kosovo institutions and I am glad that finally K-Serbs have realized that Belegrade is playing games with them and don't really care.
(kosovaman, 15 November 2009 21:35)
???? Nobody nothing recognized. North - completly ignored this pseudoelections, in Novo Brdo and Štrpce - voted probably mostly Albanians, and in other areas - voted small minority (10-15% - only becouse local Serbs need take power on this territories from Albanian hands). Thats all... I remember - one-two days before - "non-government organisation expected that 30% K-Serbs will vote". No way - mayby 10% of all K-Serbs voted in these pseudoelections and most of them in regions where they have no power.

BalkanUpdate

pre 14 godina

Various parties are reporting that 30% of the electorate has voted by 2pm local time. Central Election Commission says 15 % by 11:30 am.

Serb majority municipalities until 11:30 am: Klotok 6.1%, Ranilug 3%, Gracanica 8.5%, Sterpce 10.5%. Albanian areas average 16%.

Serbs in the North of Kosovo, 35% of overall Serb population in Kosovo, appear to have boycotted the election. Less than 3% by 11:30am.

Jan Andersen (DK)

pre 14 godina

From the article: "Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanović commented this evening on the elections to say that a "small number of Serbs voted in the illegitimate local elections called in the province by the temporary institutions"."

And Ron echoed that in his post: "Well, hope no one takes part in these illegal elections."

See - that is something I don't understand. How can an election be illegitimate or illegal?

I can understand that you, the Serbian government, the local Serbs, or anyone else for that matter, can view the representatives that emerges from such elections as illegitimate or illegal representatives, and you can choose to ignore those representatives completely.

But that does not make the elections illegal.
--

BalkanUpdate

pre 14 godina

CEC now has the results for up to 15:30: says 33% have voted so far.Serb majority areas: Klotok 14%,Ranilug 9.2%, Gracanica 14.3%,Sterpce 23.5%. Serbs municipalities in the north voted less than 3%. This is a major split between the minority of Serbs who live in the north of Kosovo and the rest of them who are scattered throughout

Ataman

pre 14 godina

as i mentioned, others, such as helsinki committe belgrade (ms biserko) are in kosovo/a trying to get out the vote in serb areas, and god bless them and their work.
(roberto, 15 November 2009 18:59)

No problem on that, even that I am not sure about Ms. Biserko and not everything she does gets my approval automatically, to say the least. Whatever works out.

You know what, let's imagine an other thing.
Imagine for a moment, I am living in Pristina. On regular basis I am traveling to Belgrade and trying to convince Albanians who live in Belgrade, that Thaci & co are not the best in Albanian history.

My $1 million question is:

What do you think, what would be underneath of my car?
Will be it Semtex? C4? Maybe Demex? How soon? Within a day or would "they" wait longer?

So far, Ms. Biserko did not find anything of that stuff under her car - and she is active for a while. And Mr. Pukanic did not live long enough to tell us more details, what was under his car. "Thanks" to Duke of Gangsters, Djukanovic... the new-found friend of "democracy" and Drenica clan.

Hawk

pre 14 godina

As long as Albanians have Thachi, Haradinai, Ceku & other KLA warlords as their leaders and politicians, Kosovo cannot even think about taking the first half-step into democracy.
So Serbs - take your future into your own hands. Don't let Albanians rule over your and the lives of your children.
Be Strog!

Denis

pre 14 godina

The EU sponsored local elections in Kosovo could not possibly have any legitimacy since they exclude the participation of more than 200000 ethnically cleansedSerbs.Furthermore,the EU refuse to aknowledge the
existence of those persons because it will alter the image of the kosovo Albanians
and make them look bad.

I also think that the Serbian
goverment should stop sending confused signals to its citizens for the sake of some distant EU membership.

They should stick by the validity of UN resolution 1244.The declaration of independence was carried out in the face of a UN Security Council resolution and in conflict with international law. Until that changes, the Serbs in Kosovo have every right to peaceful resistance
and that means abstaining from EU-Albanian machinations
to legitimatise the occupation.
(Leonidas, 15 November 2009 11:46)

Look who is talking? Europe kept silent when greeks ethnically cleansed 300,000 chams albanians from Chameria in 1945, today's northern Greece. Maybe they did it to make you look good, and you got away with it cause UN did not have the position it has today.

Can you tell me which part of international law sanctions what the Greek gov did to this population in 1945?

As a representative of a state who has been the first in the Balkans to apply the ethnic cleansing, and has gotten most free rides to EU and EU aid, you should be the last to speak about international law.

Nikos

pre 14 godina

Denis
"Look who is talking? Europe kept silent when greeks ethnically cleansed 300,000 chams albanians from Chameria in 1945, today's northern Greece"

Now what do we have here? Another imaginary genocide by albanians...300.000 displaced? like those 800.000 dead albanians from Kosovo? LOL!! Get it over guys greater Albania is a doomed project...

Milan

pre 14 godina

Now what do we have here? Another imaginary genocide by albanians...300.000 displaced? like those 800.000 dead albanians from Kosovo? LOL!! Get it over guys greater Albania is a doomed project...
(Nikos, 16 November 2009 16:24)
Yeap my friend... According Albanian propaganda Greece probably made genocide against Albanians...

sj

pre 14 godina

i am proud of Kosovo/a and proud of all the people that have chosen to vote today, to help make a difference for the future. it's a good day for us, for the people of kosovo/a!

roberto
frisco
(roberto, 15 November 2009 18:59)

Roberto the Albanians can vote until the cows come home and things will not change, Belgrade has to agree no matter if the entire world recognizes Kosovo. I keep telling your brothers that this the west “jerking your chain” because they cannot deliver anything else, no jobs, no future and so they give you a little hope so you don’t completely turn on them. Your local politicians, such as Thaci, know this, but they are paid handsomely to play the game and when the time is right they will leave for the west while you will still be in Kosovo with nothing.

Get your US/EU friends to open Wal-mart stores, new offices for Microsoft, Allianz and so on. Then come back and tell me I was wrong.