BELGRADE -- Elections in Kosovo are "a job of national importance for Serbia and an important form of political struggle," says Office for Kosovo Director Marko Đurić.

He told B92 TV on Friday that it was "extremely important that Serb representatives win as many seats" in the Kosovo assembly - "so that the state has a lever of influence and pressure" when Kosovo talks resume in Brussels.

"The election is far from regular, but for us it is a method of political struggle. Albanians in Kosovo are afraid that they will not be able to implement everything they want if we control a part of institutions," said Đurić.

Asked how it may be explained to the Serbs in Kosovo that Beglrade was not changing its stance toward the authorities in Priština, "after the delay and the fact that the government's position on the election was presented only yesterday," Đurić said that "the essence of the matter is that the position is unchangeable."

"That is the key point. We must not allow ourselves to consider it as the parliament of the state of Kosovo. People whom we'll send to these provincial provisional institutions in Priština will not consider it that way, either. These are provincial elections and no other position is possible for us," Đurić said.

When asked about the appearance of the ballot papers and the fact that, unlike for local elections, they are now "not status-neutral," this official said that "for the state of Serbia, that is not a coat of arms of the state of Kosovo."

"In the north of Kosovo the ballots will have appropriate measures so that people at the polls have no direct encounter with that logo," he said, and continued:

"For us it is not an emblem of a state. I think that people who receive a ballot will have the opportunity to cross out that coat of arms, or something like that. We have coats of arms of Belgrade, of Vojvodina, for us it is not an independent state emblem. Frankly, we wish there was no logo, this drawing which we will be crossing out - but this is for us a method of political struggle."

Đurić further believes that most moves made by the Kosovo Albanians, but also by "a part of the international community" are focused on "confusing the Serbs, 'minimizing' the Serb community and attempting to reduce their turnout." The reason for their actions, he says, are fears that the Serbs would "control a part of institutions."

"They cannot constitute the assembly or elect a government without an agreement with Serb deputies. The constitution is such, regulations are such, and the international community would not agree to their brutal trampling, either, "Đurić said.

When the interviewer said that "the conduct of the authorities in Belgrade could also confuse the Serbs," Đurić insisted that what happed was not a case of hesitation.

"It was not hesitation, but a careful consideration of the circumstances that were changing from hour to hour. The prime minister has put a lot of time in discussions with representatives of Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija, as we all did with the international community. We weighed the overall conditions for the holding of elections on the one, and national interests on the other side. The decision was made for practical reasons, because by taking as many mandates as possible we condition the formation of the government and strengthen our position," said he.

According to Đurić, Serbs winning "as many mandates as possible" in the future assembly in Priština will also be "of essential importance for the formation of a community of Serb municipalities, and the strengthening of the negotiating position of Belgrade."

He added after the election, negotiations would be held in Brussels "about the post-election moves of Belgrade and Priština."

Đurić pointed out that the Serbs in Kosovo now need discipline, commitment and responsibility, "which Albanians in Kosovo once showed."

He also "gave his word" that the spending of money for Kosovo would be transparent and in accordance with government programs and those of the office he heads, and rejected claims that the fact this office was one of the last to have its director appointed was "a sign that there is no interest in Kosovo and Metohija."

Đurić also stated that work was being done "on solving the case of Oliver Ivanović," and that "Serbia continues to provide guarantees for him and demands his release from custody."