Osmani: Kosovo Serbs are being held hostage by the Serbian president

2024-04-09 19:56:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Osmani: Kosovo Serbs are being held hostage by the Serbian president

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani

The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, on Tuesday accused the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vu?i?, of what she said was pressure on the Kosovo Serbs not to participate in the vote for the removal of the Albanian mayors from the four municipalities inhabited by a majority of Serbs in the north of Kosovo.

"We are committed to continuing to protect the rights of our citizens without distinction, we are committed to the Serbs living in Kosovo using the rights given to them by the Constitution, but unfortunately some of them are allowing to be held hostage by (Aleksandar) Vucic", said President Vjosa Osmani, calling on the international community to oppose this pressure from the Serbian president.

"They should also punish (Aleksandër) Vu?i?, who has not kept his word that he gave to them that he will not interfere in violation of international norms and the norms of law because he is another country and has no right to intervene in the processes election in Kosovo", said President Osmani.

Lista Serbe, the main subject of Kosovo Serbs, decided not to participate in the elections scheduled for April 21, while accusing Prime Minister Albin Kurti of what they said was continuous efforts to make this vote fail.

The decision provoked the reaction of the United States and the European Union, who asked this party to reconsider the decision, while the government of Kosovo should sensitively handle the concerns raised by the citizens in the north of the country.

The Central Election Commission asked the Serbian List on Tuesday to replace its resigned members from the municipal commissions that must organize the votes for the dismissal of the Albanian mayors in the four municipalities inhabited by Serbian majority in the north of Kosovo.

Currently North Mitrovica, Zubin Potoku, Leposaviçi and Zveçani are led by Albanian mayors who emerged from the elections of April 23 last year, which were boycotted by Serbian political parties.

The sending of the mayors to their offices at the end of May last year was strongly opposed by groups of Serbian citizens who clashed with Kosovo police and NATO peacekeeping forces.

The possible failure of the referendum to dismiss the presidents, which requires 50 percent plus one of the voters, would lead to a delay in the process, since one cannot be organized before 12 months have passed./ VOA