Dačić calls on Serbs to vote in repeat elections

BELGRADE Prime Minister Ivica Dacic has called on the Serbs in northern Kosovska Mitrovica to turn out and vote in the repeat local elections on November 17 According to him, Serbs there should vote "unless they want the city to be lead by an Albanian," which he said "would destroy the whole concept of the community of Serb municipalities." Dacic calls on Serbs to vote in repeat elections Dacic said that a positive report by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton is conditional, among other things, on a successful completion of the election process in Kosovo, further implementation of the Brussels agreement and improvement in relations between Belgrade and Pristina. "Unless there is a problem in the implementation of the Brussels agreement," Dacic said, "I expect that Ashton will note positively in her report that Serbia had made progress in EU integration, which should be followed by a positive decision of the European Council on the date for the beginning of the accession talks between Serbia and the EU." Dacic told the Belgrade-based TV Prva that it would be good if Serbia started the negotiations by the end of December, but even if that happens by the end of January, it will be a strong message and a signal that Serbia needs to increase the momentum of its reforms. Dacic stressed that it is very important that the Serbs turn out and vote in the repeat elections in north Kosovska Mitrovica. After a number of masked men demolished several polling stations in the Serb-majority northern Kosovo on the afternoon of November 3, and a number of attempts to discourage voters from casting their votes were reported, the votes at those polling stations were annulled. “If they want to win, the Serbs will have to take part in the elections,” Dacic said. He explained that the plan is for north Kosovska Mitrovica to be the administrative headquarters for the Community of Serb municipalities, which will consist of a total of 10 municipalities, and perhaps even the region of Gora in the south of Kosovo, where the Gorani minority make up the majority population. “If we fail to do that now, we will not have north Kosovska Mitrovica and the whole concept will collapse,” Dacic warns. “If the mayor is Albanian, it will mean that we are not be able to set up the administration, and we will not be in the position to create the Community of Serb municipalities, which could lead to conflicts, and perhaps even to armed conflicts,” said Dacic. Dacic reiterated that everyone who has been causing serious incidents in northern Kosovo and Metohija will be prosecuted. (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Dačić calls on Serbs to vote in repeat elections

Dačić said that a positive report by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton is conditional, among other things, on a successful completion of the election process in Kosovo, further implementation of the Brussels agreement and improvement in relations between Belgrade and Priština.

"Unless there is a problem in the implementation of the Brussels agreement," Dačić said, "I expect that Ashton will note positively in her report that Serbia had made progress in EU integration, which should be followed by a positive decision of the European Council on the date for the beginning of the accession talks between Serbia and the EU."

Dačić told the Belgrade-based TV Prva that it would be good if Serbia started the negotiations by the end of December, but even if that happens by the end of January, it will be a strong message and a signal that Serbia needs to increase the momentum of its reforms.

Dačić stressed that it is very important that the Serbs turn out and vote in the repeat elections in north Kosovska Mitrovica.

After a number of masked men demolished several polling stations in the Serb-majority northern Kosovo on the afternoon of November 3, and a number of attempts to discourage voters from casting their votes were reported, the votes at those polling stations were annulled.

“If they want to win, the Serbs will have to take part in the elections,” Dačić said.

He explained that the plan is for north Kosovska Mitrovica to be the administrative headquarters for the Community of Serb municipalities, which will consist of a total of 10 municipalities, and perhaps even the region of Gora in the south of Kosovo, where the Gorani minority make up the majority population.

“If we fail to do that now, we will not have north Kosovska Mitrovica and the whole concept will collapse,” Dačić warns.

“If the mayor is Albanian, it will mean that we are not be able to set up the administration, and we will not be in the position to create the Community of Serb municipalities, which could lead to conflicts, and perhaps even to armed conflicts,” said Dačić.

Dačić reiterated that everyone who has been causing serious incidents in northern Kosovo and Metohija will be prosecuted.