Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Slobodan Petrovic expects formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities (ZSO) after an unplanned delay due to the repeated elections in Northern Mitrovica and expressed hope that the institution will become an instrument for the protection and better life of Serbs in Kosovo.
As the responsible Minister, long before the election, I signed the decision on the establishment of the Community, and today I stand at the service, said Kosovo Minister for Local Government to the Frankfurt “News”.
Petrovic said that last year he signed a decision on the appointment of the preparatory team for drafting statute and the other ZSO laws.
The statute is, as far as I know, in the process of drafting. The Community shall, in accordance with the competencies of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the laws of Kosovo have the right to work on the collective exercise of its powers, he explained.
Petrovic said he hopes the ZSO will become an instrument of protection and a better life for Serbs in Kosovo and at the same time a factor of stability of Kosovo and the region.
An atmosphere is created that the ZSO, which need nobody questioned, is an end in itself and we never heard what it will deal with. The essence is important. I think of the powers, sustainability, functioning, relationships of municipalities in the community, he said adding that he is committed that the ZSO unites all the rights and interests of municipalities with Serbian majority in order to make their achievements more efficient.
The ZSO, he said, will be formed as the implementation of the agreement between the two governments in Brussels, with the support and mediation of the European Union in accordance with the laws of Kosovo. Everything arising from this relationship must be acceptable to all, said Petrovic.
He said that he had spoken with the new mayors of Serbian municipalities and he is pleased, noting that the first meetings were constructive. I am encouraged that we will act in the coming period as responsible people. All of them have support for the process before us, said Petrovic.
Asked when the elections will be announced in Pristina and how long it will delay the establishment of the ZSO, he said that he could not say the exact date because he does not know.
But it is obvious that the parliamentary elections in Kosovo are close. Elections always draw attention from the current topics and drag the whole society into the campaign. Thus, the possibility exists. Personally, I advocate that the future elections in Kosovo, as well as the current elections in Serbia do not affect the course of the establishment of the ZSO, concluded Petrovic.
