Post of the Deputy Mayor for Communities has not been filled yet after the formation of the new municipal authorities in Gnjilane/Gilan municipality.

Legal conditions for appointing a Serb to that position have not been met since Serbs make only 2 percent of the local assembly, out of 10 percent needed by the law, that is, they have only one local councilor in the municipal assembly. Appointment would still be possible if a coalition would be made with Turkish and Roma communities, or if the Mayor makes appointment.

“Municipal assembly of Gnjilane has one local councilor from the ranks of Serbian community and one from the ranks of Turkish community. We are in coalition and we agreed that we will hand over the post of the deputy local assembly chairperson to Turkish community if the Mayor appoints a Serb for the Deputy Mayor for Communities,” said Srđan Mitrović, local councilor in Gnjilane/Gilan municipality.

Mayor of Gnjilane/Gilan Lutfi Haziri however said to RTK2 that negotiations with the representative of the Serbian community are ongoing with regard to this issue, and voiced expectation that future Deputy Mayor for Communities will work on improving living conditions of all non-majority communities on the territory of that municipality.

“Gnjilane municipality has no legal obligation to appoint the Deputy Mayor for Communities, however we have good political will to do it,” said Haziri and added that they are still discussing it with the Serbian community and that he will appoint anyone from the ranks of Serbian community on his own if they don’t manage to reach the agreement.