Kosovo Serb representatives divided on elections

The participation of Serbs in the elections organized by Kosovo Albanian authorities is has already led to divisions among representatives of Kosovo Serbs. Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic believes that it would be better to wait for an official decision of the government regarding the participation of Serbs in Kosovo elections, but added, however, that if Belgrade called on Kosovo Serbs to participate in the elections, it would represent a sudden shift in the overall situation. Kosovo Serb representatives divided on elections “Without a serious analysis that would determine the reasons for and against, the Serbian government will not change its position, but it is just an opinion. The change in attitude without a serious analysis would actually be counterproductive because it would jeopardize the government's legitimacy in the regions south of the Ibar River,” Ivanovic told Tanjug. He pointed out that “different political opinions should not be sanctioned.” The elections will be held on December 12, and the decision on Serb participation is a state issue and a state interest, says Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic. "There should be no doubt on anyone's mind - the government of Serbia will make a timely decision and will send a clear message to Serbs, that will not leave room for ambiguous interpretation," Bogdanovic told Beta news agency on Wednesday. The minister also appealed on all actors in the political scene not to use this "important state question to score cheap political points". "Naturally, we'll take into account the opinion and position of the Kosovo Serbs when we make the decision. I've already spoken to them, those who live in the province, and those who have been displaced," Bogdanovic concluded. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Serb National Council (SNV) in northern Kosovo, predominantly Serb part of Kosovo, Milan Ivanovic, said he believed that Serbs should not go to the polls in the Kosovo elections, because they would thus give legitimacy to a quasi-independent state. "Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija have their own institutions and have to vote at elections organized by Serbia, in this way strengthening Serbian institutions and claiming their rights through them," he said. European Movement NGO Director Radmila Trajkovic believes, however, that Serbs should take part in the early elections in Kosovo. She told Tanjug that this moment is of utmost significance to Serbia ahead of the beginning of the Belgrade-Pristina talks. Ahead of the previous Pristina-organized elections the Serbian government and the country's president assessed that Serbs could not go the polls because the conditions provided for their voting were inadequate, but also sent a message to those who participated and voted that they would not be "sanctioned". A total of 22 out of 74 parties, independent candidates, coalitions and citizens' associations running in the elections came from the Serb community, none of them participating in the work of the Serbian parliament.

Kosovo Serb representatives divided on elections

“Without a serious analysis that would determine the reasons for and against, the Serbian government will not change its position, but it is just an opinion. The change in attitude without a serious analysis would actually be counterproductive because it would jeopardize the government's legitimacy in the regions south of the Ibar River,” Ivanović told Tanjug.

He pointed out that “different political opinions should not be sanctioned.”

The elections will be held on December 12, and the decision on Serb participation is a state issue and a state interest, says Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović.

"There should be no doubt on anyone's mind - the government of Serbia will make a timely decision and will send a clear message to Serbs, that will not leave room for ambiguous interpretation," Bogdanović told Beta news agency on Wednesday.

The minister also appealed on all actors in the political scene not to use this "important state question to score cheap political points".

"Naturally, we'll take into account the opinion and position of the Kosovo Serbs when we make the decision. I've already spoken to them, those who live in the province, and those who have been displaced," Bogdanović concluded.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Serb National Council (SNV) in northern Kosovo, predominantly Serb part of Kosovo, Milan Ivanović, said he believed that Serbs should not go to the polls in the Kosovo elections, because they would thus give legitimacy to a quasi-independent state.

"Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija have their own institutions and have to vote at elections organized by Serbia, in this way strengthening Serbian institutions and claiming their rights through them," he said.

European Movement NGO Director Radmila Trajković believes, however, that Serbs should take part in the early elections in Kosovo.

She told Tanjug that this moment is of utmost significance to Serbia ahead of the beginning of the Belgrade-Priština talks.

Ahead of the previous Priština-organized elections the Serbian government and the country's president assessed that Serbs could not go the polls because the conditions provided for their voting were inadequate, but also sent a message to those who participated and voted that they would not be "sanctioned".

A total of 22 out of 74 parties, independent candidates, coalitions and citizens' associations running in the elections came from the Serb community, none of them participating in the work of the Serbian parliament.