The issue of national identity is taken seriously by Balkan people – including the least serious among them.
Kosovo Officials Unfazed By Serb Vote
| 04 February 2008 |
Pristina _ Kosovo’s agenda will not change, regardless of the result in Serbia’s presidential elections, officials say.
Xhavit Beqiri, the spokesperson for Kosovo’s President, Fatmir Sejdiu, told Balkan Insight that “Kosovo has its own agenda ahead”, adding “it won’t be affected by the results of elections in neighbouring countries.”
"The citizens of Serbia voted democratically for whom they wanted to have as their president," Beqiri said, dismissing any link between the Serbian election result and current plans by the Kosovo government to push on with plans to declare independence from Belgrade.
"The election in Serbia and the developments in Kosovo are two separate issues,” said Kosovo Assembly member, Emrush Xhemajli.
He claimed that “the Assembly shall summon a meeting as soon as possible”, in which, he said, “the declaration of independence must take place.”
According to preliminary results from the Serbian Presidential Election, the incumbent, pro-western President, Boris Tadic, won 50.5% of the overall votes, against nationalist rival Tomislav Nikolic, who staunchly opposes Kosovo's independence.
Asked whether the victory of the Serb Radical candidate, Tomislav Nikolic would have presented a different course for the UN-administered territory, Xhemajli answered, “for us, it would be the same, since our path is independent from theirs”.
Beqiri also agrees, suggesting “the rhetoric of both candidates in Serbia did not differ at all when it came to Kosovo”.
"The citizens of Serbia voted democratically for whom they wanted to have as their president," Beqiri said, dismissing any link between the Serbian election result and current plans by the Kosovo government to push on with plans to declare independence from Belgrade.
"The election in Serbia and the developments in Kosovo are two separate issues,” said Kosovo Assembly member, Emrush Xhemajli.
He claimed that “the Assembly shall summon a meeting as soon as possible”, in which, he said, “the declaration of independence must take place.”
According to preliminary results from the Serbian Presidential Election, the incumbent, pro-western President, Boris Tadic, won 50.5% of the overall votes, against nationalist rival Tomislav Nikolic, who staunchly opposes Kosovo's independence.
Asked whether the victory of the Serb Radical candidate, Tomislav Nikolic would have presented a different course for the UN-administered territory, Xhemajli answered, “for us, it would be the same, since our path is independent from theirs”.
Beqiri also agrees, suggesting “the rhetoric of both candidates in Serbia did not differ at all when it came to Kosovo”.
