2023-06-01 19:45:17
Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani said she was “ready to consider” this possibility.
Published update
President Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked Thursday 1is June the organization of new elections in disputed municipalities in northern Kosovo, scene of recent clashes. «We have asked both parties to organize new elections in these four municipalities as soon as possible.“, declared Emmanuel Macron following a quadripartite meeting with the Serbian and Kosovar presidents in Chisinau, on the sidelines of a summit of the European Political Community.
According to the French president, this request implies a “commitment from Kosovo» and the «participation in these elections in a clear manner on the part of the Serbian side“. Questioned shortly following on this point, the President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani assured that she was “ready to considerthis possibility. Of the “clear decisions“Were asked the two leaders”for the next week“, insisted Emmanuel Macron, also evoking”the priority and immediate settlement of the question of the association of Serbian municipalities by Kosovo».
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“Less than 5% of voters”
At the same time, the head of EU diplomacy will bring together ministers of both parties on the association of these Serbian municipalities, added Emmanuel Macron. The French Head of State also deplored “the regrettable organization of elections when the guarantees of proper conduct were not provided» and the election of «four mayors with less than 5% of the voters, which is obviously not a condition of legitimacy».
For the past few days, the situation has been very tense in the region, which has been going from crisis to crisis for years. Many members of the majority Serb community in four northern towns do not recognize Pristina’s authority and are loyal to Belgrade. The Serbs boycotted the April municipal elections in these localities, which resulted in the election of Albanian mayors with a turnout of less than 3.5%. Their enthronement last week by the Kosovar government set fire to the powder.
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