Official criticizes referendum in northern Kosovo

Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic says the referendum in northern Kosovo would limit Serbia's maneuvering room in relations with the EU. Ivanovic released a statement on Thursday saying he did not dispute the legitimacy of the municipalities to hold the referendum, but that without coordination with state bodies this decision could deepen the visible differences between the Serbs in northern Kosovo and Serbs who live south of the Ibar River. Official criticizes referendum in northern Kosovo He warned the referendum would not receive support from official Belgrade or meet with understanding from the international community, with which Serbia needed to cooperate in its fight for the survival of Serbs in Kosovo. Ivanovic appealed for patience and prudence and warned that any deepening of the obvious discord with the Serbian government could only benefit "our enemies." Representatives of the Citizen Initiative, the list Ivanovic headed in the last local election, did not attend Wednesday's extraordinary session of the Kosovska Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, reads the statement. The assemblies of Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvecan and Zubin Potok held extraordinary sessions Wednesday and decided to hold a referendum in February at which the people will vote whether they accept the Pristina institutions. Oliver Ivanovic (Beta, file) Leposavic to decide on referendum on January 4 President of the Leposavic Municipal Assembly Speaker Slavko Stefanovic told Tanjug on Thursday that the local parliament would convene a session on January 4 to discuss the referendum. The referendum should be held on February 14-15, 2012. The citizens will state whether they accept the Pristina institutions by voting “yes” or “no”. Tanjug

Official criticizes referendum in northern Kosovo

He warned the referendum would not receive support from official Belgrade or meet with understanding from the international community, with which Serbia needed to cooperate in its fight for the survival of Serbs in Kosovo.

Ivanović appealed for patience and prudence and warned that any deepening of the obvious discord with the Serbian government could only benefit "our enemies."

Representatives of the Citizen Initiative, the list Ivanović headed in the last local election, did not attend Wednesday's extraordinary session of the Kosovska Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, reads the statement.

The assemblies of Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvečan and Zubin Potok held extraordinary sessions Wednesday and decided to hold a referendum in February at which the people will vote whether they accept the Priština institutions.

Leposavić to decide on referendum on January 4

President of the Leposavić Municipal Assembly Speaker Slavko Stefanović told Tanjug on Thursday that the local parliament would convene a session on January 4 to discuss the referendum.

The referendum should be held on February 14-15, 2012. The citizens will state whether they accept the Priština institutions by voting “yes” or “no”.