Minister on elections in Kosovo, Belgrade-Priština talks

Serbian Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic has stated that it is no secret that holding of local elections in Kosovo is opposed by a number of countries. He added, however, that Serbia found it more important that all regulations and UN Security Council Resolution 1244 are respected. Minister on elections in Kosovo, Belgrade-Pristina talks “Unfortunately, in reality local elections cannot be held without the support of the international missions, particularly south of the Ibar River. We will send a letter to UNMIK, and then enter consultations with them and other missions in the province,” Bogdanovic told daily Vecernje novosti. “If the support fails, we will have to consider other options, their advantages and disadvantages, collectedly and rationally,” the minister noted. “On the other hand, Pristina is using the stance of certain great powers to raise tensions and oppose holding of not only local, but also parliamentary elections, which since 1999 have never been brought to question,” Bogdanovic underlined. He said that for now there were no new preconditions for Serbia to fulfill in order to get the date for the beginning of the EU accession talks. “Of course, there is a real possibility, which is almost certain, that some countries will call for the abolishment of the Serb institutions in Kosovo,” the minister was quoted as saying. “The operation of the Serbian state institutions in the province is crucial for the survival of Serbs, as their abolishment would be life threatening and incite new migrations,” he explained. He added that there was no doubt that the elections would affect the dynamics of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and that the dialogue would be frozen until the end of the elections and forming of a new Serbian government. “It is important that we have entered the process of dialogue, which has already yielded certain agreements and progress,” the minister concluded. Goran Bogdanovic (FoNet, file) Tanjug Vecernje novosti

Minister on elections in Kosovo, Belgrade-Priština talks

“Unfortunately, in reality local elections cannot be held without the support of the international missions, particularly south of the Ibar River. We will send a letter to UNMIK, and then enter consultations with them and other missions in the province,” Bogdanović told daily Večernje novosti.

“If the support fails, we will have to consider other options, their advantages and disadvantages, collectedly and rationally,” the minister noted.

“On the other hand, Priština is using the stance of certain great powers to raise tensions and oppose holding of not only local, but also parliamentary elections, which since 1999 have never been brought to question,” Bogdanović underlined.

He said that for now there were no new preconditions for Serbia to fulfill in order to get the date for the beginning of the EU accession talks.

“Of course, there is a real possibility, which is almost certain, that some countries will call for the abolishment of the Serb institutions in Kosovo,” the minister was quoted as saying.

“The operation of the Serbian state institutions in the province is crucial for the survival of Serbs, as their abolishment would be life threatening and incite new migrations,” he explained.

He added that there was no doubt that the elections would affect the dynamics of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue and that the dialogue would be frozen until the end of the elections and forming of a new Serbian government.

“It is important that we have entered the process of dialogue, which has already yielded certain agreements and progress,” the minister concluded.