UNMIK: Kosovo vote breaches 1244

UNMIK believes that holding Serbian elections in Kosovo contravenes Resolution 1244. The Kosovo Ministry claims that UNMIK itself has renounced its authority on the issue. UNMIK: Kosovo vote breaches 1244 At a press conference for international organizations working in Kosovo, UNMIK spokesman Alexander Ivanko said that UNMIK would most probably respond to Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardzic’s letter this week, but that holding local elections in the province was in breach of Resolution 1244 and UNMIK’s powers. “Last Friday, Minister Samardzic sent UNMIK a short letter in which he seemed to be seeking permission to hold Serbian parliamentary and local elections in Kosovo,” explained Ivanko. According to the spokesman, UNMIK considered the organization of local elections in Kosovo to be a contravention of Resolution 1244 and the UNMIK executive authorities, and that those elections would be illegitimate. He said that UNMIK’s position on parliamentary elections remained as before—“we don’t support them, but we won’t obstruct them.” Ivanko said that UNMIK had contacted Contact Group representatives and the Kosovo government vis-à-vis the elections. “The Contact Group unanimously believes that local elections should not be held in Kosovo,” explained the spokesman. He said that UNMIK would decide on what further steps to take after it had received a reply from Belgrade to the letter they were about to send concerning the elections. “The only authority for organizing and confirming local elections in Kosovo is UNMIK, and if the results aren’t confirmed, then they are not valid,” stressed Ivanko. However, State Secretary at the Kosovo Ministry Dusan Prorokovic denies that calling local elections in the province contravenes Resolution 1244. “The situation is absolutely clear. UNMIK has renounced its authority to organize local elections, so the Serbian government is taking over something that is no longer in the UN mission’s jurisdiction,” Prorokovic told the Wednesday issue of daily Vecernje Novosti. According to the Kosovo Ministry official, a silent transition is under way in the province, and many powers are being transferred from UNMIK to the Kosovo government. A Foreign Ministry is being set up in Kosovo at present without any reaction from the UN mission, and this constitutes a flagrant violation of Resolution 1244. Alexander Ivanko (FoNet, archive) U.S.: UNMIK to decide on Kosovo vote A senior State Department official says that UNMIK will decide whether Serbian elections will be held in Kosovo. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Rosemary Di Carlo added that the UN mission had been responsible for organizing elections in Kosovo since 1999. “UNMIK has governed Kosovo, and now—in this transitional period—is monitoring processes such as elections,” she told Voice of America, stating that it was necessary to await an UNMIK decision. “In any case, it’s clear we believe that it would have been better if the Serbs had taken part in the Kosovo elections in November. Some of those that took part entered parliament and the government. Our aim in Kosovo is to have a multi-ethnic society that European civilization is founded on. And we hope that a solution will be found in the near future,” Di Carlo said. She underlined the importance of respecting international institutions in Kosovo—the UN, KFOR, and the EU mission that was being established. Di Carlo added that the situation in northern Kosovo was complex, and that dialogue and time would be required to ensure greater freedom, peace and prosperity.

UNMIK: Kosovo vote breaches 1244

At a press conference for international organizations working in Kosovo, UNMIK spokesman Alexander Ivanko said that UNMIK would most probably respond to Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardžić’s letter this week, but that holding local elections in the province was in breach of Resolution 1244 and UNMIK’s powers.

“Last Friday, Minister Samardžić sent UNMIK a short letter in which he seemed to be seeking permission to hold Serbian parliamentary and local elections in Kosovo,” explained Ivanko.

According to the spokesman, UNMIK considered the organization of local elections in Kosovo to be a contravention of Resolution 1244 and the UNMIK executive authorities, and that those elections would be illegitimate.

He said that UNMIK’s position on parliamentary elections remained as before—“we don’t support them, but we won’t obstruct them.”

Ivanko said that UNMIK had contacted Contact Group representatives and the Kosovo government vis-à-vis the elections.

“The Contact Group unanimously believes that local elections should not be held in Kosovo,” explained the spokesman.

He said that UNMIK would decide on what further steps to take after it had received a reply from Belgrade to the letter they were about to send concerning the elections.

“The only authority for organizing and confirming local elections in Kosovo is UNMIK, and if the results aren’t confirmed, then they are not valid,” stressed Ivanko.

However, State Secretary at the Kosovo Ministry Dušan Proroković denies that calling local elections in the province contravenes Resolution 1244.

“The situation is absolutely clear. UNMIK has renounced its authority to organize local elections, so the Serbian government is taking over something that is no longer in the UN mission’s jurisdiction,” Prorokovic told the Wednesday issue of daily Vecernje Novosti.

According to the Kosovo Ministry official, a silent transition is under way in the province, and many powers are being transferred from UNMIK to the Kosovo government. A Foreign Ministry is being set up in Kosovo at present without any reaction from the UN mission, and this constitutes a flagrant violation of Resolution 1244.

U.S.: UNMIK to decide on Kosovo vote

A senior State Department official says that UNMIK will decide whether Serbian elections will be held in Kosovo.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Rosemary Di Carlo added that the UN mission had been responsible for organizing elections in Kosovo since 1999.

“UNMIK has governed Kosovo, and now—in this transitional period—is monitoring processes such as elections,” she told Voice of America, stating that it was necessary to await an UNMIK decision.

“In any case, it’s clear we believe that it would have been better if the Serbs had taken part in the Kosovo elections in November. Some of those that took part entered parliament and the government. Our aim in Kosovo is to have a multi-ethnic society that European civilization is founded on. And we hope that a solution will be found in the near future,” Di Carlo said.

She underlined the importance of respecting international institutions in Kosovo—the UN, KFOR, and the EU mission that was being established.

Di Carlo added that the situation in northern Kosovo was complex, and that dialogue and time would be required to ensure greater freedom, peace and prosperity.