Two local administrations in enclave

Kosovo Serb enclave of Strpce has a new local government, with a functioning local self-administration financed by Belgrade already in place there. The formation of local governments continues in Kosovo based on the results of the recent elections organized by the Kosovo Albanian government last fall. Two local administrations in enclave Residents of Strpce, a majority of them ethnic Serbs, now have two local self-administrations. The constitutive municipal meeting of the administration that will be financed by the Kosovo government was held in the same hall that was used by the local officials financed by the Serbian government. This creates the initial problem of who will be using these facilities. Bratislav Nikolic, who was elected municipal president in the Kosovo government organized elections, said that he will “offer the possibility of cooperation with the municipal officials financed by Belgrade”. “I must say that at this moment, we are working to solve the problem we have with parallel structure in this municipality. The Serb and Kosovo municipality are important for the people of Strpce at this point, and for everyone who is thinking about the interests of the people who live here, and all help is welcomed,” Nikolic said. Zvonko Mihajlovic heads the Belgrade-funded administration. He said that he has already been in contact with the officials from the new administration. “So we had one contact with them. They came to us and said that some new reality had taken place, that you’re talking about, and that we are obligated to give the government building to them. On the other side, the fact is that the Republic of Serbia built this building and it is owned by Serbia, and the bodies of Serbia that were elected in the elections should be able to work in it without obstruction. If something is to be formed in Strpce, and formed by force and repression, I don’t know who needs that here and where that will lead,” he said. Nikolic said that he has “no intention or mandate for abolishing the institutions financed by Belgrade”, but he expects “reconciliation”. The new assembly in Strpce is multi-ethnic, says our reporter. The assembly president is Dejan Mrdjinac of the Independent Liberal Party and his deputy is Hamdi Aliu of the Democratic Party of Kosovo. “There is no reason for this to be done. The municipal president is a Serb, the speaker is a Serb and why should parallel structures be working? That should be disbanded,” Aliu said. There are about 15,000 residents of Strpce, with Serbs making up the majority. Our reporter says that the use of the premises will be the first challenge “that may require Belgrade’s word and very fast”.

Two local administrations in enclave

Residents of Štrpce, a majority of them ethnic Serbs, now have two local self-administrations.

The constitutive municipal meeting of the administration that will be financed by the Kosovo government was held in the same hall that was used by the local officials financed by the Serbian government.

This creates the initial problem of who will be using these facilities.

Bratislav Nikolić, who was elected municipal president in the Kosovo government organized elections, said that he will “offer the possibility of cooperation with the municipal officials financed by Belgrade”.

“I must say that at this moment, we are working to solve the problem we have with parallel structure in this municipality. The Serb and Kosovo municipality are important for the people of Štrpce at this point, and for everyone who is thinking about the interests of the people who live here, and all help is welcomed,” Nikolić said.

Zvonko Mihajlović heads the Belgrade-funded administration. He said that he has already been in contact with the officials from the new administration.

“So we had one contact with them. They came to us and said that some new reality had taken place, that you’re talking about, and that we are obligated to give the government building to them. On the other side, the fact is that the Republic of Serbia built this building and it is owned by Serbia, and the bodies of Serbia that were elected in the elections should be able to work in it without obstruction. If something is to be formed in Štrpce, and formed by force and repression, I don’t know who needs that here and where that will lead,” he said.

Nikolić said that he has “no intention or mandate for abolishing the institutions financed by Belgrade”, but he expects “reconciliation”.

The new assembly in Štrpce is multi-ethnic, says our reporter. The assembly president is Dejan Mrđinac of the Independent Liberal Party and his deputy is Hamdi Aliu of the Democratic Party of Kosovo.

“There is no reason for this to be done. The municipal president is a Serb, the speaker is a Serb and why should parallel structures be working? That should be disbanded,” Aliu said.

There are about 15,000 residents of Štrpce, with Serbs making up the majority. Our reporter says that the use of the premises will be the first challenge “that may require Belgrade’s word and very fast”.