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Belgrade: Serbs Can`t Vote in Kosovo Poll

Belgrade | 03 July 2009 |

Svetozar Ciplic

The Serbian government annouced that the November 15 elections in Kosovo have no validity and called upon Serbs in Kosovo not to vote.

Svetozar Ciplic, Serbian Minister for Human and Minority Rights, told media at a new conference on Thursday that no conditions existed for Serbs to vote.

"The Serbian government has considered the current problems in Kosovo and has concluded that the elections, scheduled by the temporary authorities of the Kosovo Albanians, are not in accord with Resolution 1244, nor with the Constitutional Framework for the temporary self-rule of Kosovo," Ciplic told reporters.

Ciplic added that the recent return of over 300 Serb police offers to the Kosovo Police Service, is in accordance with the UN Secretary General's six-point plan, "which is in accord with Resolution 1244 and the policy of status neutrality of international organisations."

"I expect the return of the Serbs to the police force to increase the level of security and establish the rule of law within the framework of Resolution 1244," Ciplic stressed.

He noted that the "return of the Serbs to the Kosovo police represents a return to the situation that existed prior to the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence," saying that the number one priority of the Ministry for Kosovo is to find a way to stabilise the situation in Kosovo through intensive cooperation with international institutions.

Vuk Jeremic, Serbian Foreign Minister, told the media that if Serbs participated in the autumn elections they would be indirectly recognising Kosovo`s independence. Jeremic said he could not imagine Serbs participating in an election where the authorities are in violation of international law.

"Serbia recognises neither the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, nor the secessionist authorities in Pristina," he told reporters while on a diplomatic mission to Poland.

"That resolution[1244] has established the rules that must be respected," Jeremic underlined.

Goran Bogdanovic, Minister for Kosovo was quoted and saying that Belgrade would not support the local elections in Kosovo.

“Serbia will remain true to its decision to never recognise Kosovo's independence and to use all legal and political means to fight to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this part of our country,” Bogdanovic told daily Vecernje Novosti.

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Comments:

2009-07-03 18:02:54

Man beograd is full of War Criminals running around or these jokers. The return of serb minority is in accordance with 6 point plan and UN1244. Really? What are you talking about? Both of these plans are void & null. "The Serbian government has considered the current problems in Kosovo and has concluded that the elections, scheduled by the temporary authorities of the Kosovo Albanians, are not in accord with Resolution 1244, nor with the Constitutional Framework for the temporary self-rule of Kosovo," Ciplic told reporters. No they are in accord and that's why you are scarred of serb minority voting because than you lose more credibility. â€œSerbia will remain true to its decision to never recognise Kosovo's independence and to use all legal and political means to fight to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this part of our country,â€ Bogdanovic told daily Vecernje Novosti. Recognizing Kosova will be done with next or the one thereafter beograd government. Securing the serbian intergrity...hmmm that's great, why was this even mentioned, nothing to do with Kosova.

2009-07-03 18:55:46

as in any election; to get whats best for you, you vote. My tip for the serbs in Kosovo is to move forward and not listen to any censervativ propaganda. Go vote, and vote for what you think is best for you.

Voting...
2009-07-04 14:14:35

"...as in any election; to get whats best for you, you vote..." Great advice by Albanians who boycotted Serbian elections for quarter of a century, organizing their parallel elections in the Albanian populated areas. Now suddenly they discovered that voting is best thing to do. If they haven't boycotted only one Serbian election during '90s, Milosevic would be out of the power in 1991! But, no! They goal was not to overthrow Milosevice's regime and to live good and prosperous lives in the democratic society. From the moment one, their only goal was to carve out Kosovo from Serbia, and therefore it was in their interest not to go out on Serbian elections so that Milosevic could stay in power. And now they suddenly started to criticize boycotting of their elections. But we all know that this call are not aiming at creating sincere muthiethnic Kosovo. They need Serbs not to boycott elections so that Albanians could claim they are for the multi ethincity. But, I would say... fat chance.

@Hawk
2009-07-05 21:24:22

"If they haven't boycotted only one Serbian election during '90s, Milosevic would be out of the power in 1991! But, no! They goal was not to overthrow Milosevice's regime and to live good and prosperous lives in the democratic society." Really? And vote for who instead? Vuk Draskovic? Vojislav Seselj? All Serbian political parties in the 1990s were uniformly nationalistic and determined in their bigotry. You are either oblivious or wilfully concealing this fact. There is a tendency to blame it all on Milosevic, but he was just a clever opportunist. He would have never succeeded without the vast support he enjoyed in Serbia. The opposition may have seemed like an alternative to you, but to us Kosovar Albanians (and the world at large, for that matter) they were just Chetniks in different garb. By 1991, we had lost all trust in any political solution that involved Serbia, along with our jobs, schooling rights, and, in many cases, lives. In other words, it was Serbian rampant nationalism that made independence the only viable option. So spend some time on learning your history, on denazification, and leave Kosovo Serbs to decide their own fate. Because, whatever you say about Kosovar political parties, they can in no way be compared to the Serbian political scene of the 1990s.

Elections
2009-07-06 17:13:01

During '90s, Albanians had two very distinct options considering their possible participation in Serbia's elections. If they really wanted to live in democratic and prosperous Serbia, firstly, they could vote for any of Albanian parties, lets say, for the late Rugova party. No one would force them to vote for Serb parties. If they did that, they would have at least 20 to 30 deputies (even more) in Serbian Parliament so they could act as a "king-makers" and therefore they would be in the position to push through any of their demands. Secondly - they were in the position to vote for Milan Panic - who were Yugoslav PM during '91-'92. As I remember correctly (and I do), he lost elections to Milosevic by couple of hundreds votes. (and that happened only because Milosevic's election theft). If Albanians have participated in that elections, Panic would defeated Milosevic and Albanians would get the chance to exercise their rights any which way they wanted, since Milan Panic was a DIRECT ENVOY OF US Clinton's administration. But, no! They decided to boycott Serbian elections. And that was just because they goal never was to live and participate in Serbia democratic and economic development. Their only goal always was to take away Kosovo from Serbia. Their goal was then, and is now creating of Greater Albania. So, be honest and admit that. And don't call Serb people to vote for Albanian parties. Serbs have already suffered enough. Don't try to force Serbian children to learn Albanian history stating that one of the biggest Serbian executioner, Adem Jashari, was a Albanian National Hero and that one of the biggest Serbian Heroes, Milan Obilic, was Albanian.

Elections
2009-07-07 02:47:52

rron, you obviously have your version of events and they are miles apart from the Serbian version. I have read many Albanian comments where they openly admit to wanting an independent Kosovo since early 1900s. What was the reason then. You blame chetniks now but what was your problem then? Besides, you make chetniks sound like they were criminals. General Mihailovic was awarded a medal after the war by the American president. Does he sound like a criminal to you? At least he was never on the terrorist list like your beloved KLA and chetniks are given the right to march on Anzac day in Australia with Aussie soldiers and all the allies. I seriously doubt that Australian government would allow criminals to march on this important day.

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Belgrade: Serbs Can`t Vote in Kosovo Poll