Serbs reiterate opposition to "strategy for north"

Kosovo Serb officials oppose the Kosovo Albanian government’s plan for integrating the northern part of Kosovo. At the same time, in Pristina, preparations are under way to create a new municipality, that of "Northern Mitrovica", where Serbs are predominant. Serbs reiterate opposition to "strategy for north" Local Government Minister Sadri Ferati said that "everything is ready for forming the new Serbian municipality of Partes near Gnjilane, while the formation of the Northern Mitrovica municipality will depend on progress on the ground". Most Serbs in the north reject the Pristina plan, while Belgrade said that with this plan, "Pristina is running away from the real problems in Kosovo". The formation of the Northern Mitrovica municipality is part of the Kosovo government’s plan for integrating the north into the Kosovo system. Ferati said that a team for the formation of the new municipalities exists and that there is an ongoing tender for office space. Meanwhile, Kosovska Mitrovica District chief Radenko Nedeljkovic said that Pristina is trying to buy time for avoiding real problems, claiming that even the formation of teams for preparing the integration of Northern Mitrovica is contentious. Surveys done in northern Kosovska Mitrovica show that citizens do not support the creation of a new municipality in this part of the ethnically divided town. Some believe that it is an effort by Pristina to occupy the north, which Ferati denies. While Pristina continues to insist on the decentralization of northern Kosovo, a march was scheduled for March 24 in Kosovska Mitrovica, to mark the anniversary of the beginning of the 1999 NATO attacks against Yugoslavia. The Serb National Council event will also send a message against the "decentralization plan for northern Kosovo".

Serbs reiterate opposition to "strategy for north"

Local Government Minister Sadri Ferati said that "everything is ready for forming the new Serbian municipality of Parteš near Gnjilane, while the formation of the Northern Mitrovica municipality will depend on progress on the ground".

Most Serbs in the north reject the Priština plan, while Belgrade said that with this plan, "Priština is running away from the real problems in Kosovo".

The formation of the Northern Mitrovica municipality is part of the Kosovo government’s plan for integrating the north into the Kosovo system.

Ferati said that a team for the formation of the new municipalities exists and that there is an ongoing tender for office space.

Meanwhile, Kosovska Mitrovica District chief Radenko Nedeljković said that Priština is trying to buy time for avoiding real problems, claiming that even the formation of teams for preparing the integration of Northern Mitrovica is contentious.

Surveys done in northern Kosovska Mitrovica show that citizens do not support the creation of a new municipality in this part of the ethnically divided town. Some believe that it is an effort by Priština to occupy the north, which Ferati denies.

While Priština continues to insist on the decentralization of northern Kosovo, a march was scheduled for March 24 in Kosovska Mitrovica, to mark the anniversary of the beginning of the 1999 NATO attacks against Yugoslavia.

The Serb National Council event will also send a message against the "decentralization plan for northern Kosovo".