Belgrade Urges Kosovo Serbs to Vote, Serbs to Decide soon

After a three-hour meeting with representatives of Kosovo Serbs, reporters were told that the government will stand by its people in Kosovo. BELGRADE - Serbia's top officials on Wednesday tried to impress upon Kosovo Serbs that voting in the status-neutral local election is the best way to fight for Serbian citizens and national interests in the southern province, while Serb representatives said they would make the decision in the next few days. Belgrade Urges Kosovo Serbs to Vote, Serbs to Decide soon After a three-hour meeting with representatives of Kosovo Serbs, advisor to the Serbian president Marko Djuric told reporters that the government will stand by its people in Kosovo whatever they decide concerning the coming election. "We sent the message that the formation of status-neutral municipalities, that is municipalities established on the principles of status neutrality based on the agreement, should be the way we as a state and a nation will fight for our interests," said Djuric. The steps taken in the coming days will determine whether this will be an opportunity seized and a victory, he said. Djuric said the discussion covered all issued related to the life of Serbs in Kosovo and a variety of opinions were expressed. "We are trying to preserve unity. Regardless of the decisions they make and the position on the election they assume, the Serbian government will stand by its people in Kosovo," said Djuric. Chairman of the Serbian National Council Milan Ivanovic did not come out with a final position on Wednesday, but said the decision will be made in the coming days. He did not want to say whether the Serbs are closer to boycotting or participating in the election set for November 3, but stressed that a united stance is the goal. "We heard clear positions from the state leadership and decided to come out with our own definitive position shortly," said Ivanovic. A meeting with Serbs from southern Kosovo is also necessary, as is a consensus of Serb representatives, the Serb people in Kosovo and the government, it was stressed in the meeting. "We now have some time to inform our parties, institutions, organizations and municipalities, and then we will present a final position, which we will relay to the Belgrade government at our next meeting," said Ivanovic. He stressed that international law must be respected, as well as the only valid international document backed by the UN Security Council - Resolution 1244, with which all potential solutions must comply. Serbia's top officials on Wednesday tried to impress upon Kosovo Serbs that voting in the status-neutral local election is the best way to fight for Serbian citizens and national interests in the southern province, while Serb representatives said they would make the decision in the next few days. After a three-hour meeting with representatives of Kosovo Serbs, advisor to the Serbian president Marko Djuric told reporters that the government will stand by its people in Kosovo whatever they decide concerning the coming election. "We sent the message that the formation of status-neutral municipalities, that is municipalities established on the principles of status neutrality based on the agreement, should be the way we as a state and a nation will fight for our interests," said Djuric. The steps taken in the coming days will determine whether this will be an opportunity seized and a victory, he said. Djuric said the discussion covered all issued related to the life of Serbs in Kosovo and a variety of opinions were expressed. "We are trying to preserve unity. Regardless of the decisions they make and the position on the election they assume, the Serbian government will stand by its people in Kosovo," said Djuric. Chairman of the Serbian National Council Milan Ivanovic did not come out with a final position on Wednesday, but said the decision will be made in the coming days. He did not want to say whether the Serbs are closer to boycotting or participating in the election set for November 3, but stressed that a united stance is the goal. "We heard clear positions from the state leadership and decided to come out with our own definitive position shortly," said Ivanovic. A meeting with Serbs from southern Kosovo is also necessary, as is a consensus of Serb representatives, the Serb people in Kosovo and the government, it was stressed in the meeting. "We now have some time to inform our parties, institutions, organizations and municipalities, and then we will present a final position, which we will relay to the Belgrade government at our next meeting," said Ivanovic. He stressed that international law must be respected, as well as the only valid international document backed by the UN Security Council - Resolution 1244, with which all potential solutions must comply. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic called on Kosovo-Metohija Serbs to adopt the decision on voting in the November 3 elections as soon as possible and said that Belgrade will not back the boycott of the polls, Tanjug learnt. Nikolic called on Kosovo Serbs to adopt the decision as soon as possible and noted that time is passing, and “everything we do not do today will only be something we can dream of tomorrow”. During the talks with the delegation of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs, the president reiterated that Serbia will never leave their side and added that Serbs in the province are aware of the current situation, and it is important for them that there be no dilemmas whatsoever concerning status neutrality. Serb representatives underscored that at this moment, the unity of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija needs to be preserved at any cost. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Ivica Dacic launched the meeting with the delegation of Kosovo Serbs in the Presidency building some time around 11.300 and according to announcements, the talks will cover the current situation in the province, primarily the preparations for local elections. The delegation of Serbs from northern Kosovo-Metohija includes Head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District Radenko Nedeljkovic, representatives of the four northern Kosovo municipalities and President of the Serbia National Council Milan Ivanovic. The meeting is also attended by Director for the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija, Deputy Director Krstimir Pantic and Serbian president's advisor Marko Djuric. Tanjug Tanjug

Belgrade Urges Kosovo Serbs to Vote, Serbs to Decide soon

After a three-hour meeting with representatives of Kosovo Serbs, advisor to the Serbian president Marko Djuric told reporters that the government will stand by its people in Kosovo whatever they decide concerning the coming election.

"We sent the message that the formation of status-neutral municipalities, that is municipalities established on the principles of status neutrality based on the agreement, should be the way we as a state and a nation will fight for our interests," said Djuric.

The steps taken in the coming days will determine whether this will be an opportunity seized and a victory, he said.

Djuric said the discussion covered all issued related to the life of Serbs in Kosovo and a variety of opinions were expressed.

"We are trying to preserve unity. Regardless of the decisions they make and the position on the election they assume, the Serbian government will stand by its people in Kosovo," said Djuric.

Chairman of the Serbian National Council Milan Ivanovic did not come out with a final position on Wednesday, but said the decision will be made in the coming days.

He did not want to say whether the Serbs are closer to boycotting or participating in the election set for November 3, but stressed that a united stance is the goal.

"We heard clear positions from the state leadership and decided to come out with our own definitive position shortly," said Ivanovic.

A meeting with Serbs from southern Kosovo is also necessary, as is a consensus of Serb representatives, the Serb people in Kosovo and the government, it was stressed in the meeting.

"We now have some time to inform our parties, institutions, organizations and municipalities, and then we will present a final position, which we will relay to the Belgrade government at our next meeting," said Ivanovic.

He stressed that international law must be respected, as well as the only valid international document backed by the UN Security Council - Resolution 1244, with which all potential solutions must comply.

Serbia's top officials on Wednesday tried to impress upon Kosovo Serbs that voting in the status-neutral local election is the best way to fight for Serbian citizens and national interests in the southern province, while Serb representatives said they would make the decision in the next few days.

After a three-hour meeting with representatives of Kosovo Serbs, advisor to the Serbian president Marko Djuric told reporters that the government will stand by its people in Kosovo whatever they decide concerning the coming election.

"We sent the message that the formation of status-neutral municipalities, that is municipalities established on the principles of status neutrality based on the agreement, should be the way we as a state and a nation will fight for our interests," said Djuric.

The steps taken in the coming days will determine whether this will be an opportunity seized and a victory, he said.

Djuric said the discussion covered all issued related to the life of Serbs in Kosovo and a variety of opinions were expressed.

"We are trying to preserve unity. Regardless of the decisions they make and the position on the election they assume, the Serbian government will stand by its people in Kosovo," said Djuric.

Chairman of the Serbian National Council Milan Ivanovic did not come out with a final position on Wednesday, but said the decision will be made in the coming days.

He did not want to say whether the Serbs are closer to boycotting or participating in the election set for November 3, but stressed that a united stance is the goal.

"We heard clear positions from the state leadership and decided to come out with our own definitive position shortly," said Ivanovic.

A meeting with Serbs from southern Kosovo is also necessary, as is a consensus of Serb representatives, the Serb people in Kosovo and the government, it was stressed in the meeting.

"We now have some time to inform our parties, institutions, organizations and municipalities, and then we will present a final position, which we will relay to the Belgrade government at our next meeting," said Ivanovic.

He stressed that international law must be respected, as well as the only valid international document backed by the UN Security Council - Resolution 1244, with which all potential solutions must comply.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic called on Kosovo-Metohija Serbs to adopt the decision on voting in the November 3 elections as soon as possible and said that Belgrade will not back the boycott of the polls, Tanjug learnt.

Nikolic called on Kosovo Serbs to adopt the decision as soon as possible and noted that time is passing, and “everything we do not do today will only be something we can dream of tomorrow”.

During the talks with the delegation of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs, the president reiterated that Serbia will never leave their side and added that Serbs in the province are aware of the current situation, and it is important for them that there be no dilemmas whatsoever concerning status neutrality.

Serb representatives underscored that at this moment, the unity of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija needs to be preserved at any cost.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Ivica Dacic launched the meeting with the delegation of Kosovo Serbs in the Presidency building some time around 11.300 and according to announcements, the talks will cover the current situation in the province, primarily the preparations for local elections.

The delegation of Serbs from northern Kosovo-Metohija includes Head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District Radenko Nedeljkovic, representatives of the four northern Kosovo municipalities and President of the Serbia National Council Milan Ivanovic.

The meeting is also attended by Director for the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija, Deputy Director Krstimir Pantic and Serbian president's advisor Marko Djuric.