30 April 2008 Pristina _ Kosovo’s Assembly has adopted a statement condemning Serbia’s plans to hold local elections in Kosovo.
“The Assembly considers these elections and their outcome will not have any effect in Kosovo,” Parliament Speaker, Jakup Krasniqi said.
He added lawmakers wanted to back the stance held by the President Fatmir Sejdiu, the government and the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK regarding Serbia’s intentions to hold local elections in Kosovo.
Deputy Prime Minister, Hajredin Kuci told deputies that “every election that Serbia organises in Kosovo is illegitimate and illegal.”
“We have the support of UNMIK that institutions in Kosovo cannot be formed based on these elections but the government of Kosovo will not apply violence in these matters,” Kuci pledged.
Serbia’s government says it will hold both parliamentary and local elections in Serb-inhabited areas of Kosovo on May 11.
While Kosovo’s leaders say the Serb community in Kosovo would be allowed to vote in Serbia’s parliamentary poll based on the principle of ‘dual citizenship’ for Kosovo Serbs, the United Nations mission in Kosovo says the local poll would be illegal, although it would not prevent them.
Pristina leaders and the UN have raised concern that Kosovo Serbs may use the local elections to strengthen their rival administration, which furnished with political and financial assistance from Belgrade, has continued to defy Kosovo’s February 17 declaration of independence.
The United States and representatives of the European Parliament have also opposed Belgrade’s move arguing “foreign elections” cannot be held on the territory of Kosovo.
Serbia vehemently opposes the independence of its former southern province, Kosovo and claims it is legitimately organising elections within its own territory.
Despite the calls from some deputies that Kosovo’s Assembly drafts a resolution against Serbian local elections in Kosovo, the legislature only debated a statement which will be documented as a condemnation.
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