"Belgrade won't change stance on elections"

Kosovo Ministry State Secretary Oliver Ivanović says there will be no change in Belgrade’s position regarding Serb participation in the Kosovo local elections.

Izvor: Tanjug

Wednesday, 08.07.2009.

15:13

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Kosovo Ministry State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic says there will be no change in Belgrade’s position regarding Serb participation in the Kosovo local elections. Ivanovic told Tanjug that Kosovo elections, scheduled for November 15, would result either in a total boycott or in very low turnout of Serbs, who would not be able to represent the Serb community in the Kosovo institutions, with the “one or two hundred votes that they will have altogether.“ "Belgrade won't change stance on elections" He believes that the International Civilian Office (ICO) will have to admit that they were wrong to try and impose a solution, and that they need to begin serious negotiations with Serbia and the Serbs. "It is too late for Belgrade to change its mind regarding the Serbs' participation in Kosovo elections. Municipalities are necessary and significant, particularly to Serbs living south of Ibar river, but that does not mean that the elections can be carried out this way," Ivanovic pointed out. "They cannot trick us into getting involved in the election process, because Serbs have a certain political maturity. The ICO is the one that should be examining its position," the state secretary underscored. Ivanovic said that those Serbs who decided to vote would “definitely suffer moral sanctions.“ “The people have always thus far respected the government’s decision, and I see no reason why anything else should happen on this occasion. If individuals or organizations wish to cooperate with Belgrade, then they must realize that it can only be on a common basis,“ the state secretary explained. In the past ten years, the Kosovo Serbs have, as a rule, followed Belgrade’s lead when it comes to participation, with the exception of a few small parties newly-formed for the occasion. Local authorities in Serb regions in Kosovo were formed on the basis of the results of the Serbian elections of May 11 last year, with President Boris Tadic stating that there was no need for a new round of elections. The government does not believe that the local elections in Kosovo are in line with UN Security Council resolution 1244, and that the conditions are not such that the Serbs should be taking part. Oliver Ivanovic (Beta, archive)

"Belgrade won't change stance on elections"

He believes that the International Civilian Office (ICO) will have to admit that they were wrong to try and impose a solution, and that they need to begin serious negotiations with Serbia and the Serbs.

"It is too late for Belgrade to change its mind regarding the Serbs' participation in Kosovo elections. Municipalities are necessary and significant, particularly to Serbs living south of Ibar river, but that does not mean that the elections can be carried out this way," Ivanović pointed out.

"They cannot trick us into getting involved in the election process, because Serbs have a certain political maturity. The ICO is the one that should be examining its position," the state secretary underscored.

Ivanović said that those Serbs who decided to vote would “definitely suffer moral sanctions.“

“The people have always thus far respected the government’s decision, and I see no reason why anything else should happen on this occasion. If individuals or organizations wish to cooperate with Belgrade, then they must realize that it can only be on a common basis,“ the state secretary explained.

In the past ten years, the Kosovo Serbs have, as a rule, followed Belgrade’s lead when it comes to participation, with the exception of a few small parties newly-formed for the occasion.

Local authorities in Serb regions in Kosovo were formed on the basis of the results of the Serbian elections of May 11 last year, with President Boris Tadić stating that there was no need for a new round of elections.

The government does not believe that the local elections in Kosovo are in line with UN Security Council resolution 1244, and that the conditions are not such that the Serbs should be taking part.

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