"Key is now in hands of Brussels"

BELGRADE The director of the Serbian government's media office said on Monday that "no one could accept the results of elections in northern Kosovo." "The key is now in the hands of Brussels," he added. "Key is now in hands of Brussels" When asked "what happened yesterday in Kosovska Mitrovica," Milivoje Mihajlovic told B92 that, in political terms, what occurred was "the failure of the elections." He said they were a chance for Serbs to participate in the political life, to choose their leadership that would affect the overall life of the Serbs in Kosovo. "It is a powerful force through which the Serbs could affect the government in Pristina, however, the voting in Kosovska Mitrovica started in an irregular manner. Whoever voted was subjected to verbal lynching, and afterwards, the polls were broken as well as the ballot boxes," he said. Thus, Mihajlovic pointed out, elections in the north neither started on time, nor were completed on time, and there were a lot of irregularities, with the OSCE withdrawing in the end. Asked if these elections will be repeated, Mihajlovic said that "that can happen," but noted that the decision would be made by the Central Election Commission of Kosovo, and that it may be influenced by the OSCE. In any case, he continued, "these elections were not regular and if we look at who is to blame, we can say that there is fault on all sides." "The government helped in organizing the elections and has done everything in its power. But some things should have been done before the organization of elections, such as for example, identifying the hooligans who were in the north and broke the boxes. They had to be isolated and processed for something they had done before," Mihajlovic added. Another problem was created by the administration in Pristina, said he, "about symbols on ballot papers and manipulation of voter rolls." As an example, he said that "on some ballot papers the emblem of Kosovo was taped over with white paper." "Pristina has done all so that the Serbs would boycotted the elections, because they have a great fear of the Serbs who can organize themselves and influence the government," said Mihajlovic. Asked why Belgrade failed so far to persuade northern Kosovska Mitrovica to vote if the benefits were so great for the Serbs, Mihajlovic said that "we should keep in mind that Mitrovica has been living in lawlessness for 13 years," while "the international community thinks Serbia must not to interfere." He also told B92 that he "had the impression that since the setting on fire of the Jarinje checkpoint, a team of Kosovo Serbs was working for (Hahsim) Thaci." "However, people who think they can maintain the status quo are wrong, it is unsustainable in every sense. Something has to be reset in the system and this is the essence of the Brussels agreement, to ensure a stable and sustainable life of Serbs in Kosovo," said Mihajlovic. According to him, incidents that occurred yesterday in Kosovo jeopardized that deal, which he said was "the most serious post-conflict agreement after the Second World War, " and which "cannot fail if we all continue to work vigorously on its application." Mihajlovic then noted that " the biggest problem was with the two municipalities in northern Kosovo, northern (Kosovska) Mitrovica and Zvecan, while the Serbs south of the Ibar votes and turned out above 50 percent. They will receive Serb mayors." When asked "what would happen with the northern part," he said that "remains to be seen." "If there are no objections we will see which votes will be counted. I do not see a way out if a repeat of the elections is not accepted," he said. When asked whether Belgrade will accept the results in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, Mihajloivc replied that "although he does not make decisions" he "did not know who in Belgrade would accepted the results of such elections in which there were many irregularities." "I think that Pristina wants to continue the agony," he stated, and added that the key to solving this problem "is now in the hands of Brussels (EU)." (Tanjug, file) B92

"Key is now in hands of Brussels"

When asked "what happened yesterday in Kosovska Mitrovica," Milivoje Mihajlović told B92 that, in political terms, what occurred was "the failure of the elections."

He said they were a chance for Serbs to participate in the political life, to choose their leadership that would affect the overall life of the Serbs in Kosovo.

"It is a powerful force through which the Serbs could affect the government in Priština, however, the voting in Kosovska Mitrovica started in an irregular manner. Whoever voted was subjected to verbal lynching, and afterwards, the polls were broken as well as the ballot boxes," he said.

Thus, Mihajlović pointed out, elections in the north neither started on time, nor were completed on time, and there were a lot of irregularities, with the OSCE withdrawing in the end.

Asked if these elections will be repeated, Mihajlović said that "that can happen," but noted that the decision would be made by the Central Election Commission of Kosovo, and that it may be influenced by the OSCE.

In any case, he continued, "these elections were not regular and if we look at who is to blame, we can say that there is fault on all sides."

"The government helped in organizing the elections and has done everything in its power. But some things should have been done before the organization of elections, such as for example, identifying the hooligans who were in the north and broke the boxes. They had to be isolated and processed for something they had done before," Mihajlović added.

Another problem was created by the administration in Priština, said he, "about symbols on ballot papers and manipulation of voter rolls." As an example, he said that "on some ballot papers the emblem of Kosovo was taped over with white paper."

"Priština has done all so that the Serbs would boycotted the elections, because they have a great fear of the Serbs who can organize themselves and influence the government," said Mihajlović.

Asked why Belgrade failed so far to persuade northern Kosovska Mitrovica to vote if the benefits were so great for the Serbs, Mihajlović said that "we should keep in mind that Mitrovica has been living in lawlessness for 13 years," while "the international community thinks Serbia must not to interfere."

He also told B92 that he "had the impression that since the setting on fire of the Jarinje checkpoint, a team of Kosovo Serbs was working for (Hahsim) Thaci."

"However, people who think they can maintain the status quo are wrong, it is unsustainable in every sense. Something has to be reset in the system and this is the essence of the Brussels agreement, to ensure a stable and sustainable life of Serbs in Kosovo," said Mihajlović.

According to him, incidents that occurred yesterday in Kosovo jeopardized that deal, which he said was "the most serious post-conflict agreement after the Second World War, " and which "cannot fail if we all continue to work vigorously on its application."

Mihajlović then noted that " the biggest problem was with the two municipalities in northern Kosovo, northern (Kosovska) Mitrovica and Zvečan, while the Serbs south of the Ibar votes and turned out above 50 percent. They will receive Serb mayors."

When asked "what would happen with the northern part," he said that "remains to be seen."

"If there are no objections we will see which votes will be counted. I do not see a way out if a repeat of the elections is not accepted," he said.

When asked whether Belgrade will accept the results in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, Mihajloivć replied that "although he does not make decisions" he "did not know who in Belgrade would accepted the results of such elections in which there were many irregularities."

"I think that Priština wants to continue the agony," he stated, and added that the key to solving this problem "is now in the hands of Brussels (EU)."