EU: Election in Kosovo’s North Fails to Offer Long-Term Solution for Four Northern Municipalities

Peter Stano (Photo: print screen/youtube)

The local elections held in the north of Kosovo cannot provide a long-term political solution for the four municipalities in which they took place, and only the permanent return of Kosovo Serbs to institutions, which Kosovo should facilitate, can make it possible, the European Union External Action (EEAS) stated on April 24.

In a statement on the April 24 mayoral elections in North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok, and municipal assembly elections in Zvecan and Leposavic, a spokesman for the EEAS, Peter Stano, said that “the work on the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities needs to be finalized as soon as possible.”

The Union has recognized that the elections were held within the legal framework of Kosovo, and that efforts had been made for them to proceed smoothly, regretting though that not all parties and communities took part, Stano said.

“The very low turnout, in particular among Kosovo Serb citizens, shows that this process is not and cannot be considered business as usual,” the release went on to say.

“It is imperative that we urgently restore a situation where Kosovo Serbs participate actively in local governance, policing and judiciary in the north of Kosovo,” and to that end “there is an urgent need for a serious dialogue between the Government of Kosovo and Kosovo Serbs in the north,” Stano suggested in the statement.