Referendum will “strengthen Belgrade’s position”

Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Krstimir Pantic has stated that northern Kosovo referendum will show that the Albanian institutions are not wanted. The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) official added that the results of the referendum will show the politicians in Belgrade that not only northern Kosovo town mayors did not accept the Pristina institutions but that the entire people living there felt the same way. Referendum will “strengthen Belgrade’s position” “The enormous pressure on the north of the province will this way be reduced and our team, our government and President Boris Tadic’s negotiating positions in future negotiations will be strengthened,” Pantic told B92. “The fact is that you now have 70,000 citizens that are saying loud and clear in talks with the international community that they do not want to live and be a part of the so-called independent Kosovo,” he explained. Democratic Party (DS) official from Kosovo Smiljana Milisavljevic on the other hand believes that the upcoming referendum is not a referendum of the citizens but of Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and SNS leaders Vojislav Kostunica and Tomislav Nikolic, “who see their chance in it”. She explained that Kostunica was hoping to steer Serbia away from the European pathway for good, while Nikolic would like Serbia not to get the EU candidate status and that way diminish DS’ chances in the elections. B92 Tanjug

Referendum will “strengthen Belgrade’s position”

“The enormous pressure on the north of the province will this way be reduced and our team, our government and President Boris Tadić’s negotiating positions in future negotiations will be strengthened,” Pantić told B92.

“The fact is that you now have 70,000 citizens that are saying loud and clear in talks with the international community that they do not want to live and be a part of the so-called independent Kosovo,” he explained.

Democratic Party (DS) official from Kosovo Smiljana Milisavljević on the other hand believes that the upcoming referendum is not a referendum of the citizens but of Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and SNS leaders Vojislav Koštunica and Tomislav Nikolić, “who see their chance in it”.

She explained that Koštunica was hoping to steer Serbia away from the European pathway for good, while Nikolić would like Serbia not to get the EU candidate status and that way diminish DS’ chances in the elections.