- History of elections in North: Voting, murders, violence and politics (Klan Kosova)
- Kosovo symbols in ballot papers of elections in the north, according to CEC (GazetaExpress)
- CEC approves Operational Plan for organisation of elections in the north (KTV)
- Serbs again warn to quit institutions and destabilise north (KTV)
- Sherifi: Srpska Lista conveyed the message that Kosovo is not in charge of north (KTV)
- Kosovo Serb opposition representatives and Alliance for Serbia to establish an Alliance for Kosovo and Metohija (Kossev)
- Thaçi appalled by denial of Reçak massacre by Serbia (KTV)
- Hoti: No agreement without recognition from Serbia (RTK)
- Thaçi does not expect change of relations with Serbia in Berlin summit (RTK)
- Hoxha in France: After elections at EP, we expect visa liberalisation (RTK)
- Haradinaj: I am no longer being asked to revoke the tariff (Summary of KTV’s Rubicon show)
- Daka: We have overcome challenges of organising elections in north (RTK’s summary of Monitor show)
News
History of elections in North: Voting, murders, violence and politics
(Klan Kosova)
Showing video footage from polling stations in the north, Klan Kosova reported that it is 2012, five years after declaration of independence of Kosovo, but it is the first time that Serbs in the four municipalities in the north decided to take part in elections for local government organised by the Central Elections Commission with its headquarters in Prishtinë/Pristina, facilitated by the OSCE.
International police took care of security of this long-awaited process; however they came out to be very weak against a gang that broke several polling stations.
The second round of elections was needed in the new municipality in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, while in the race for the mayor remained Krstimir Pantic of Srpska Lista and Oliver Ivanovic of SDP, who was murdered later – same as Dimitrije Janicijevic of SLS.
Pantic, who won the race, refused the post as he had to take oath in front of Kosovo symbols, therefore his place was taken by the party fellow Goran Rakic. The latter also won without any difficulties in the 2017 elections, when the north joined the elections together with the entire Republic. But Srpska Lista, which assumed the role of representing Belgrade in Kosovo, gave up its governmental posts and those in northern municipalities as a sign of dissatisfaction with the tariff on Serbian goods. Due to this decision, the extraordinary elections for mayors of the four municipalities have now been called. Srpska Lista has decided to take part in them once again.
Constitutional law professor Mazllum Baraliu, who was also the Central Elections Commission’s chairperson, says that this time the CEC should fully complete its duty, without interference.
“Secretariat of this Commission should organise elections there regardless if there will be a turnout of Serbs or not,” Baraliu stated.
He says that even in the previous years, such as the 2007, elections were organised in the north, but Serbs did not turn out in the voting.
“We have conducted four electoral processes in all the parts of Kosovo, including the north and we had our institutions there, our representatives there…,” Baraliu added.
The extraordinary elections for Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, Zvecan/Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic/Leposaviq have been announced by President Hashim Thaçi and they will be held on May 19th.
Kosovo symbols in ballot papers of elections in the north, according to CEC
(GazetaExpress)
Chairwoman of the Central Elections Commission (CEC), Valdete Daka, told T7 television that they have started preparations for extraordinary mayoral elections set to be held on 19 May in the four Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo.
Kosovo President Hashim Thaci announced on Tuesday early elections in northern municipalities of Mitrovica North, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, after Serb mayors resigned protesting Kosovo Government’s decision on introducing 100 percent tax on Serbian goods.
“We have organised elections in these municipalities earlier, so there will be no problems. The CEC has started implementing an operational plan, and the preparations on holding elections are ongoing,” Daka told T7.
Daka expressed her optimism on voters turnout, adding however that the CEC duty is to organise regular elections and it is up to citizens to decide whether to cast their ballots or not.
Asked whether the CEC will print state symbols in the ballot papers, Daka confirmed that the ballot papers will be printed with state symbols as in earlier election processes held in these municipalities.
CEC approves Operational Plan for organisation of elections in the north
(KTV)
The Central Election Commission (CEC) held its meeting on the line chaired by the chairwoman, Valdete Daka.
Through a press release, it was announced that at this meeting, the Central Election Commission approved the Operational Plan for organization of extraordinary elections for mayors of municipalities: Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North, Zubin Potok, Leposavic/Leposaviq and Zvecan/Zveçan, set to be held on 19 May 2019.
This plan foresees all activities to be undertaken for organization of these elections.
In the continuation of this meeting, CEC reviewed and approved several requests for the replacement of members of Municipal Assemblies from the municipalities of Prizren, Deçan and Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North.
Serbs again warn to quit institutions and destabilise north
(KTV)
Serbs in Kosovo have kept threatening to quit all the Kosovo institutions, and they have even set a 45-day deadline.
Sources inside the Government told KTV that even the Kosovo Security Council held a meeting on this issue, since warnings for aggravation of the situation in Kosovo north had also been made.
A member of the Government Cabinet, who chose not to speak publically, said that there were warnings with the scenario to quit the institutions, namely the Kosovo Police and courts.
The Office of Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj responded to email by saying that the threatening rhetoric of Belgrade does not contribute to peace in the region.
The Government says that it has continuously called upon Serbs to continue their work in the Kosovo institutions, not to become instruments of Belgrade’s politics.
“Situation in the north is calm. Kosovo Serbs are an integral part of our institutions. Belgrade’s threatening rhetoric does not help peace in the region. We as a Government have continuously called upon Kosovo Serbs to continue their work in the institutions, rather than becoming instruments to Belgrade’s aggressive politics,” response of the Kosovo’s Prime Minister says.
On the other hand, MP Rexhep Selimi, who is also a member of the Assembly Committee for Internal Affairs and Security, says that Serbs have also threatened to quit the Police, in order to create a political and geographical entity in Kosovo.
KTV asked the Office of the Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi about their stance on this issue, but they did not respond.
Kosovo institutions have discussed this issue also with the international partners.
The warning for a scenario to destabilise the country was made also by Head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA), Shpend Maxhuni, in his briefing to the Assembly Committee for KIA Oversight.
The Committee chairperson Faton Topalli said that Maxhuni had stated that there were intentions by Serbia to destabilise security in Kosovo.
According to Topalli, Maxhuni said that he had informed the state leaders about this issue.
Sherifi: Srpska Lista conveyed the message that Kosovo is not in charge of north
(KTV)
Bilall Sherifi of Nisma said that the visit to Belgrade of Srpska Lista to consult the Serbian President Aleksandër Vucic about participation in the elections called in north, conveys the message of this political entity that not Kosovo, but Serbia is in charge of that area.
On Wednesday, Sherifi spoke on RTK’s “Imazh” show.
“The visit of Srpska Lista to Belgrade does not imply that they will be loyal to Kosovo. The visit serves to convey the message that it is Belgrade which is in charge of that territory. They want to convey the message that Kosovo institutions are not in charge of that area”, Sherifi said.
“So, this is a game for territories, not for rights. If it were about rights, Serb community enjoys more rights than anybody else on the planet,” he added.
Sherifi said that Srpska Lista was a product of Hashim Thaçi, as according to him, the dialogue process through which this political entity emerged happened at the time when Thaçi was Prime Minister.
Kosovo Serb opposition representatives and Alliance for Serbia to establish an Alliance for Kosovo and Metohija
(Kossev)
“The Alliance for Serbia supports the idea of creating an Alliance for Kosovo and Metohija – a sister organization, so that the voices of the Kosovo Serbs can be heard much more often and for them to be able to have a decisive influence on Serbia’s policy towards Kosovo,” the Alliance for Serbia and a delegation of opposition political representatives of Kosovo Serbs announced during a joint conference today. “We have come to the Alliance for Serbia to ask them to accept our decision that Serbs from the north – mayoral candidates – do not participate in the election because two candidates were killed (Oliver Ivanovic and Dimitrije Janicijevic),” Kosovo Serb politician Rada Trajkovic said.
„I think that things need to change. The leaders of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija should have a decisive influence on the policy of the state of Serbia towards Kosovo and Metohija,“ one of the leaders of the Alliance for Serbia, Bosko Obradovic said, adding:
„So that we listen to them more, rather than for them to listen to us.“
The Alliance for Kosovo and Metohija will include representatives of associations, parties, citizens, as well as prominent individuals from Kosovo, regardless of their political affiliation.
The Alliance for Serbia also announced that an inaugural assembly is planned, without specifying when and where, and that meetings will be held both in Belgrade and Kosovo.
Obradovic: Reconciliation, not delimitation
On behalf of the Alliance for Serbia, Obradovic recalled its „alternative policy“ on Kosovo – which is included in the 30-point Platform of this Alliance and which is contrary to the policy advocated by the current government.
„First of all, respect for the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, from the preamble to presidential oath, absolute respect for the UN SC Resolution 1244 and finally our unwillingness to support, in any way, the path of the so-called independent Kosovo towards the United Nations,“ Obradovic said, emphasizing that the Alliance is against any referendum on the topic in undemocratic conditions.
„Reconciliation, not delimitation,“ Obradovic pointed out.
Radosavljevic: We have to act in order to prevent this downfall
The owner of RTV ‘Mir’ from Leposavic, Nenad Radosavljevic said that the Serbs from Kosovo are currently in a hopeless situation.
„We have to act again and we will have to do our best to prevent this downfall,“ he said.
Radosavljevic criticized the announced elections in the north because of what he sees as “illegal actions” of Srpska Lista.
„There should be no elections, especially in our region. As long as the votes are brought in bags with which Srpska Lista is elected to remain in power, as long as a video of an opponent is broadcast on electronic media during campaigns – the electricity is shut down in an entire municipality, it makes no sense to participate,“ said Radosavljevic.
He emphasized that the basic issue for Serbian officials who say that nothing was accomplished within the Brussels Agreement and who point to its uselessness should be the calling of elections within the system of the Republic of Serbia.
„That would be done by a man who cares about his integrity,“ said Radosavljevic.
Representatives of the People’s Justice, the European Movement of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija, the National Movement ‘Otadzbina’, Aleksandar Stojanovic from the People’s Party from Kosovo, as well as the organizer of the “1 out of 5 million” protests in Gracanica, Branislav Markovic attended the meeting.
Srpska Lista announced today that it has decided to participate in the extraordinary elections which will be organized in the four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo on May 19th.
Thaçi appalled by denial of Reçak massacre by Serbia
(KTV)
Using his Twitter profile, President of Kosovo Hashim Thaçi reacted against the statements of different Serb officials, as well as Wednesday’s statement of Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, who denied Reçak massacre.
Thaçi expressed his appalment for these offensive statements coming from officials in Belgrade, thus denying the massacres of innocent civilians done by Serbian government forces in 98-99.
“Appalled by the offensive statements coming from officials in Belgrade, denying in this day and age, the massacres of innocent people done by Serbian government forces in 98-99. Denying Recak and dozens of massacres is deeply disturbing and doesn’t forebode well for reconciliation,” Thaçi wrote.
Hoti: No agreement without recognition from Serbia
(RTK)
LDK caucus leader Avdullah Hoti reacted to statements of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic over the Reçak massacre, saying that Kosovo may not enter adventures of a comprehensive agreement with Serbia until the latter recognizes independent state of Kosovo.
“How can one negotiate with someone who calls the Reçak massacre a fabrication?! This is what the Serbian President said today. This is as if the Holocaust is denied. We need to be unified and demand strong reaction from the entire democratic world against these statements of Belgrade.
It is obvious that it will take years and change of governments in Belgrade before politicians there will call their conscience about crimes committed in Kosovo by the Serbian state.
Only then Serbia can make the big step for recognizing the state of Kosovo and normalisation of relations. Until then we should not enter any adventure to achieve any partial agreement,” Hoti wrote on Facebook.
Thaçi does not expect change of relations with Serbia in Berlin summit
(RTK)
Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi does not expect anything new regarding Kosovo-Serbia relations from the Berlin summit on April 29th.
He says meeting with the Western Balkan leaders will be a routine meeting of increased Germany and France’s attention to developments in the Western Balkans.
President Thaçi says he welcomes the increased interest from Germany and France, to congratulate the agreement between Macedonia and Greece, and focus on the possibility of reaching a Kosovo-Serbia agreement, but according to him, there will not be anything new from this summit with regard to relations between the two countries.
Hoxha in France: After elections at EP, we expect visa liberalisation
(RTK)
Kosovo’s Minister for European Integration Dhurata Hoxha met on Wednesday with France’s Minister of Interior Laurent Nunez, English edition of RTKLive reported.
They discussed Kosovo’s achievements and initiated reforms in the rule of law, especially with regards to the war against organized crime and corruption, illegal migration as well as other common challenges in the field of security.
“Kosovo is the only country in Europe with limited freedom of movement and this is not in accordance with EU values. We are ready to offer full cooperation about any concern related to visa liberalization. Our excellent relations will continue to be the same with France, as an important strategic partner in advancing peace, security, and European values, especially freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law,” Hoxha said.
She added that Kosovo understands the situation within the European Parliament in the verge of elections, “however we expect to move forward on liberalization of visas after these elections.”
Haradinaj: I am no longer being asked to revoke the tariff
(Summary of KTV’s Rubicon show)
Haradinaj reiterated on KTV’s Rubicon show that the tariff will not be revoked, unless a draft agreement is reached. He said that the tariff stopped the border correction idea, but he added that the measure will not be revoked before the dialogue resumes.
“In order to avoid that, we have requested a comprehensive contract for mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia, which should be received by our Negotiating team,” he stressed.
Haradinaj said that if they had assurances that such a contract would be implemented, they would not have blocked the process.
“Tariff is not the obstacle why Vucic is not returning to negotiations, but it is the lack of his political willingness. When they call him and tell him ‘sir, you must sit, he does sit at the table,” he said.
Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj confirmed that he will attend the meeting on 29th April in Berlin, invited by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the French President Emmanuel Macron.
Haradinaj will represent Kosovo, along with the President Hashim Thaçi.
Haradinaj said that it would be good if they would consult preliminarily with President Thaçi about the topics and positions; otherwise, he said it is his right provided by the Constitution to explain his positions, referring to the idea of Thaçi for territory exchange, which, according to Haradinaj, is a wrong idea.
Haradinaj stated that there is no more ground for such an idea; moreover, he said that even its initiator, President Hashim Thaçi, has realised this.
The head of Kosovo’s executive is certain that he has turned into a subject of attacks and says he knows why this is happening.
“I was subject to attacks because I did not subdue to some of the topics, such as partition, that they thought was a done deal, not just here, but even in the region, the tariff, and the army. They are being bothered by a person who is subduing to these topics,” said Ramush Haradinaj.
PM Haradinaj continues refusing to revoke the tariff.
Furthermore, according to him, he is no longer being asked to do so.
Haradinaj said that all those who demanded revocation of the tariff, including his close associates, are weakening Kosovo.
“Whoever is rushing into weakening Kosovo through the tariff, they better don’t. The time when they subdued has passed. We had to impose this tariff, we were forced by Serbia,” Haradinaj said.
“Everyone knows that it will not be revoked. No one is asking for its revocation any more. They saw and they dropped this matter,” he added.
Haradinaj also spoke about his recent visit to the United States and Kosovo’s relations with this country.
Daka: We have overcome challenges of organising elections in north
(RTK’s summary of Monitor show)
Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Valdete Daka said that the challenges of organising election in Kosovo north have been overcome.
On Wednesday, she talked to RTK’s Monitor show.
“There are challenges, but they have been overcome. We have organised elections in north, as same as in other parts. Since 2013, we have organised several election processes in north municipalities,” she said.
“There are challenges in all election processes, and there are more in early elections. But now we have become experts of early elections, because it is known that there have been many early election processes,” Daka concluded.
Also talking to Monitor, political expert Adnan Merovci said that Srpska Lista has been causing damage to Kosovo and to Kosovo Serbs.
“Srpska Lista is not a surprise, it is a product, and it is a result on which the international community also has had its play. The international community has understood that Srpska Lista is a cancer to democracy. It has been understood that Srpska Lista is not healthy,” he said.
Monitor show hosted also political expert Milazim Krasniqi, who said:
“Despite the harsh rhetoric, Srpska Lista will take part in elections, and it will continue its blocking role. We will continue having nerve playing still for some time in north. Srpska Lista is a group of mercenaries that receives orders from Belgrade,” he said.
According to him, over the last years there has been a tolerant behaviour as opposed to the arrogant behaviour of Srpska Lista.
“Today’s statements of Vucic and Djuric were scandalous. They speak with the rhetoric of 1990s,” Krasniqi added.
Another guest on Monitor show was political expert Bujar Dugolli. He said that organisation of the elections in north refutes the claims that Kosovo has no jurisdiction over this area.
According to Dugolli, the decision to take part in elections shows that Srpska Lista has started to lose its authority, which is a good thing.
