Kosovo Serbs with divided opinions about elections (VOA)
Kosovo Serbs are divided about participation in the upcoming Serbian parliamentary elections. Some say that by turning out on elections Serbs would give legitimacy to Belgrade’s betrayal of Kosovo, whereas others argue that it is very important that future Serbian government enjoys support of Kosovo Serbs.
Serbian National Forum has called Kosovo Serbs to stay in their homes on Sunday and not to turn out in elections. Their main reason for calling on boycott is that Serbs “by participation in a farce named Republic elections, in organization of the OSCE, are becoming co-perpetrators in the Brussels treason, and with their votes they would confirm legitimacy to those who are determined to bring the treason to the very end”.
“Considering the politics of betrayal of the Serbian state leadership, who are simply and bruttaly selling everything that has a prefix ‘Serbian’ in Kosovo and Metohija, we have decided, exactly from these reasons, to call Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija to boycott the upcoming elections,” said vice-president of the Serbian National Forum Zivorad Lazic.
On the other side, the Mayor of Gračanica/Graçanicë, Vladeta Kostić, said to Voice of America that for the sake of the Brussels dialogue it is very important for Serbs in Kosovo to turn out in as big number as possible in Serbian parliamentary elections on 24 April.
“This is very important for all of us who live here. Taking into account that the Brussels dialogue is still ongoing and that negotiations are not over yet, Serbian government, that is, the prime minister who will be at the helm of the government should have wide and big support of Serbs from Kosovo, considering that it is about us. And because of continuation of the Brussels dialogue, Serbs should turn out in as big number as possible in this elections,” said Kostic.