UNMIK remains unmoved over elections

UNMIK spokesman Alexander Ivanko says that the UN administration’s position on elections in Kosovo remains unaltered.

Izvor: Beta

Wednesday, 16.04.2008.

12:16

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UNMIK spokesman Alexander Ivanko says that the UN administration’s position on elections in Kosovo remains unaltered. “Our stance is the same—all elections in Kosovo that are not organized by UNMIK will be considered illegal, including the Serbian elections,” Ivanko said. UNMIK remains unmoved over elections “If Serbia goes ahead and holds local elections in Kosovo, it will be a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and UNMIK’s executive mandate,” he cautioned. He told Mitrovica-based Kontakt Plus Radio that UNMIK officials would respond in writing to Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardzic regarding the Serbian government’s wish to hold elections in the province. Two days ago, Samardzic called on UNMIK Chief Joachim Ruecker to call local elections in Kosovo, to be organized by Belgrade. Officials of Kosovo’s temporary institutions have asked UNMIK to “use its authority” and prohibit Serbian local elections in the province. The Republic Electoral Commission has decided to hold both parliamentary and local elections in Kosovo, with local votes in 23 municipalities inhabited by Serbs until 1999. Meanwhile, UNMIK spokesman Sven Lindholm has said that the UN mission will respond this week to the Kosovo Ministry’s request to organize Serbian local elections in Kosovo on May 11. Lindholm told KiM Radio that UNMIK had received Samardzic’s request and that it was being evaluated. “I hope that we will have a final answer this week,” he said. Lindholm said that there had been no official change in UNMIK’s position regarding the matter. “We still believe that if Serbia holds local elections in Kosovo, it will be breaching Resolution 1244, and UNMIK will consider the elections invalid, because only UNMIK has the right to hold elections in Kosovo,” he said. The spokesman added that Ruecker had sent a letter to the Kosovo minister stating that Belgrade could only hold legitimate local elections under UNMIK’s auspices in five majority Serb municipalities in Kosovo. Alexander Ivanko (FoNet, archive)

UNMIK remains unmoved over elections

“If Serbia goes ahead and holds local elections in Kosovo, it will be a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and UNMIK’s executive mandate,” he cautioned.

He told Mitrovica-based Kontakt Plus Radio that UNMIK officials would respond in writing to Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardzić regarding the Serbian government’s wish to hold elections in the province.

Two days ago, Samardžić called on UNMIK Chief Joachim Ruecker to call local elections in Kosovo, to be organized by Belgrade.

Officials of Kosovo’s temporary institutions have asked UNMIK to “use its authority” and prohibit Serbian local elections in the province.

The Republic Electoral Commission has decided to hold both parliamentary and local elections in Kosovo, with local votes in 23 municipalities inhabited by Serbs until 1999.

Meanwhile, UNMIK spokesman Sven Lindholm has said that the UN mission will respond this week to the Kosovo Ministry’s request to organize Serbian local elections in Kosovo on May 11.

Lindholm told KiM Radio that UNMIK had received Samardžić’s request and that it was being evaluated.

“I hope that we will have a final answer this week,” he said.

Lindholm said that there had been no official change in UNMIK’s position regarding the matter.

“We still believe that if Serbia holds local elections in Kosovo, it will be breaching Resolution 1244, and UNMIK will consider the elections invalid, because only UNMIK has the right to hold elections in Kosovo,” he said.

The spokesman added that Ruecker had sent a letter to the Kosovo minister stating that Belgrade could only hold legitimate local elections under UNMIK’s auspices in five majority Serb municipalities in Kosovo.

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