[sorabia] UN: Kosovo Serbs Could Vote In Serbia Poll

[Boba]

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/9094/
 
UN: Kosovo Serbs Could Vote In Serbia Poll

UNMIK In Kosovo
03 April 2008 Pristina _ The United Nations says Kosovo Serbs might be allowed 
to vote in Serbia's May 11 general elections. 
The UN Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK said on Wednesday, it is the only authority in 
Kosovo allowed to organise elections but options are being reviewed that could 
permit the Serb community to participate in Serbia’s May 11 national elections.

Alexander Ivanko, UNMIK’s spokesman said “it is not only New York [where the UN 
is headquartered] we are talking to,” about the issue.

He added that “further meetings are scheduled this week with the Contact Group 
and the European Union,” regarding the issue of elections. 

The Contact Group, consisting of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, 
Germany, Italy and Russia, were assisting in mediating in Kosovo’s final 
status, up to Pristina’s declaration of independence on February 17.

Ivanko added that “there is no discussion on elections going on with Serbia.”

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica’s government collapsed on March 13 
amid a rift between pro-Western ministers loyal to President Tadic and 
Kostunica’s conservatives over a resolution that stipulated that Serbia would 
abandon its bid to join the European Union unless Brussels recognises Kosovo as 
lying firmly within Serbian borders.

Since the UN took over the administration of Kosovo in 1999, the Serb minority 
has been allowed to vote in Serbian elections.

Earlier last month, German Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier said 
“Kosovo Serbs are now citizens of Kosovo and as such they should not be allowed 
to vote in a Serbian poll.”

But Kosovo’s President, Fatmir Sejdiu said that “the principle of dual 
citizenship allows such voting, unless it is used for creating parallel 
structures in Kosovo.” 

His statement highlighted concern about parallel institutions set up by 
Belgrade in Serb-dominated areas of Kosovo where Serbia's support has come in 
the form of providing social services, pensions, wages for government workers 
and subsidised products, benefits the cash-strapped government in Pristina can 
ill-afford. This has effectively created a rival administration in these areas 
which UN and Pristina are protesting.


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