Osmani: Lista Serbe has engaged in terrorist acts, Petkovic calls this statement "shameful"

2024-12-24 21:04:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Osmani: Lista Serbe has engaged in terrorist acts, Petkovic calls this statement

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, estimates that the Serbian List is engaged in terrorist acts, acts of aggression and violation of the constitutional order, the Cabinet of the Presidency has said in several answers to Radio Free Europe.

This statement comes a day after the Central Election Commission (CEC) has not certified the Serbian List - the largest party of Serbs in Kosovo - for the February 9 parliamentary elections, following concerns raised by representatives of the ruling party, the Vetëvendosje Movement, that , this party does not recognize the state of Kosovo, and does not refer to it by its official name, but as "Kosova and Metohia".

The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Germany have expressed concern and regret over this decision and have called for the certification process to be based on legal standards and procedures in accordance with laws, and not based on political considerations.

According to her cabinet, Osmani believes that the CEC should decide independently.

"Every decision issued by the CEC must be respected, as part of the commitment to the rule of law and the preservation of institutional integrity", Osmani was quoted as saying.

The Serbian List has complained about this decision to the Electoral Panel for Complaints and Appeals, and the decision is expected to be made public within 48 hours.

According to the chairman of this party - which enjoys the support of official Belgrade - Zlatan Ellek, the decision for non-certification is absurd, anti-Serbian and undemocratic and was made at the request of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti.

In a press conference, the prime minister of Kosovo was asked to comment on Osmani's statement and the possibility of declaring the Serbian List as a terrorist organization, but he recalled that the Kosovo authorities have declared groups such as the Northern Brigade and the Civil Defense as terrorists and that the Serbian List is different from the character, so they are not placed in the same category.

"However, it belongs to the prosecution and security bodies, especially the State Prosecutor's Office and the courts, to clarify much more, and with increased speed to bring justice even on the possible connections between the Civil Defense and the Northern Brigade on the one hand, and The Serbian list on the other side", said Kurti.

Petar Petkovic, head of the Office for Kosovo in the Government of Serbia, said that President Osmani's "shameful" statement only confirms that the CEC's decision was political and was taken under Kurt's orders.

"Vjosa and Kurti don't even know about democracy or the rule of law. With this approach, Prishtina shows that the Serbian List and the unity of the Serbs is a problem for them. For this reason, Lista Serbe should win!", said Petkovic through a post on X - the platform previously known as Twitter.

Connoisseurs of political affairs estimate that the non-certification of this party is part of the pre-election campaign of the party in power.

Lista Serbe has said that it will participate in the elections after a period of boycotting political processes in Kosovo.

In 2022, members of this party resigned collectively from the institutions of Kosovo, as a sign of opposition to the decisions of the Kosovo authorities for the extension of authority throughout the territory of the country.

The February 9 parliamentary elections constitute the first regular electoral process in Kosovo, after the declaration of independence in 2008.

So far, many early elections have been held./REL