"Belgrade not giving up on organizing vote in Kosovo"

Goran Bogdanović says Belgrade has not given up on organizing both local and parliamentary elections in Kosovo, after a negative reply from UNMIK.

Izvor: Beta

Tuesday, 27.03.2012.

09:21

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Goran Bogdanovic says Belgrade has not given up on organizing both local and parliamentary elections in Kosovo, after a negative reply from UNMIK. "We will continue our discussions with the UN mission (UNMIK), OSCE, all relevant international factors, in order to secure unimpeded elections in Kosovo," the minister for Kosovo and Metohija told the Tuesday edition of the Belgrade-based daily Danas. "Belgrade not giving up on organizing vote in Kosovo" Last week, the head UNMIK said that in his reply to the Serbian authorities that "under present circumstances", that mission could not organize the voting in Kosovo. "We must take into account all the facts: that it is hard to organize elections south of the Ibar River without the support of the international presence, or deliver election materials. There are security threats, threats from Pristina and (ethnic) Albanian extremists," said the minister. Serbs south of the Ibar live in isolated enclaves, while in the north they form the majority. Bogdanovic reiterated that in case elections are not held in the province, "this will not lead to the abolishment of Serbian institutions". In another interview, this time for Vecernje Novosti, Bogdanovic was quoted as saying that "consultations will be held with the international community so that elections are held at least for the state parliament". According to him, Serbia will seek a clarification of the message sent by the United States that "they found it acceptable for all citizens of Kosovo who have dual citizenships to take part in the election". "We're not really clear on what the United States have in mind. We consider all residents of Kosovo to be citizens of our country alone," he was quoted by the daily. The minister added that he had no data on how many Serbs who live in the province took the documents issued by the Kosovo Albanian authorities, saying that "Pristina is not publishing that data", but that "a considerable number of our citizens who live (in enclaves) south of the Ibar River did". Goran Bogdanovic (Beta, file) Beta Danas Vecernje novosti

"Belgrade not giving up on organizing vote in Kosovo"

Last week, the head UNMIK said that in his reply to the Serbian authorities that "under present circumstances", that mission could not organize the voting in Kosovo.

"We must take into account all the facts: that it is hard to organize elections south of the Ibar River without the support of the international presence, or deliver election materials. There are security threats, threats from Priština and (ethnic) Albanian extremists," said the minister.

Serbs south of the Ibar live in isolated enclaves, while in the north they form the majority.

Bogdanović reiterated that in case elections are not held in the province, "this will not lead to the abolishment of Serbian institutions".

In another interview, this time for Večernje Novosti, Bogdanović was quoted as saying that "consultations will be held with the international community so that elections are held at least for the state parliament".

According to him, Serbia will seek a clarification of the message sent by the United States that "they found it acceptable for all citizens of Kosovo who have dual citizenships to take part in the election".

"We're not really clear on what the United States have in mind. We consider all residents of Kosovo to be citizens of our country alone," he was quoted by the daily.

The minister added that he had no data on how many Serbs who live in the province took the documents issued by the Kosovo Albanian authorities, saying that "Priština is not publishing that data", but that "a considerable number of our citizens who live (in enclaves) south of the Ibar River did".

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