Authorities criticized for stance on elections in Kosovo

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) says the authorities' announced refusal to recognize the results of local elections in Kosovo was absolutely unacceptable. This concerns local elections that Serb municipalities in Kosovo and Metohija said they would organized themselves, after Belgrade decided it was "contrary to UN Resolution 1244" to hold local elections there. Authorities criticized for stance on elections in Kosovo “This is unacceptable, because Zvecan and Zubin Potok, where the local elections should be held, are within the system of local government and just like the local elections will be held in Kraljevo, Krusevac, Nis, Novi Sad, they should also be held in Zvecan and Zubin Potok, as defined by the Constitution of Serbia,” DSS spokesman Petar Petkovic told a press conference. Petkovic said that “the outgoing government in Belgrade says so (that they would not accept the results of the elections), and so says the illegal Pristina government, as if it is a kind of a coordinated policy by the outgoing government in Belgrade and Kosovo Albanians in Pristina, all directed against the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.” According to this spokesman, the Serbian government wants to meet the requirements put before the country by Brussels and German Councilor Angela Merkel by not organizing, not holding and not recognizing the results of local elections. “The payment to be made for getting the candidate status (for EU membership) is for the Serbian government not to organize the local elections in Kosovo and Metohija,” Petkovic said, adding that the goal behind not organizing the elections is to start closing the Serbian institutions in KiM. He said that Brussels wants the Serbian government to abolish the only legal institutions in the province, as “Kosovo cannot be independent, even if recognized by the entire world - unless the same is done by the Republic of Serbia.” “That is why there is so much pressure exerted on the current government and Serbia,” concluded Petkovic. Elections will be held in Serbia on May 6. Petar Petkovic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Authorities criticized for stance on elections in Kosovo

“This is unacceptable, because Zvečan and Zubin Potok, where the local elections should be held, are within the system of local government and just like the local elections will be held in Kraljevo, Kruševac, Niš, Novi Sad, they should also be held in Zvečan and Zubin Potok, as defined by the Constitution of Serbia,” DSS spokesman Petar Petković told a press conference.

Petković said that “the outgoing government in Belgrade says so (that they would not accept the results of the elections), and so says the illegal Priština government, as if it is a kind of a coordinated policy by the outgoing government in Belgrade and Kosovo Albanians in Priština, all directed against the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.”

According to this spokesman, the Serbian government wants to meet the requirements put before the country by Brussels and German Councilor Angela Merkel by not organizing, not holding and not recognizing the results of local elections.

“The payment to be made for getting the candidate status (for EU membership) is for the Serbian government not to organize the local elections in Kosovo and Metohija,” Petković said, adding that the goal behind not organizing the elections is to start closing the Serbian institutions in KiM.

He said that Brussels wants the Serbian government to abolish the only legal institutions in the province, as “Kosovo cannot be independent, even if recognized by the entire world - unless the same is done by the Republic of Serbia.”

“That is why there is so much pressure exerted on the current government and Serbia,” concluded Petković.

Elections will be held in Serbia on May 6.