Government calls on Serbs to participate in elections

Government calls on Serbs to participate in elections

BELGRADE -- "All citizens of Kosovo and Metohija" have been urged "to take part in parliamentary elections for provisional institutions of self-government in the province."

The appeal came on Thursday from the Serbian government, and concerns elections to be held in Kosovo on Sunday, June 8.

A Serbian government session concluded that "it was necessary to win as many seats as possible in the provincial parliament and use those to ensure the survival of the Serbs, the setting up of a community of Serb municipalities and implementation of relevant state policy measures “aimed at hindering further promotion and implementation of policies of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo.”

By taking part in the elections and sending our representatives to the provisional institutions of self-government in Priština we will make our negotiating position stronger and push the separatists further from achieving their goals, the government said in a statement.

The government also believes that a massive turnout will defeat the intentions cherished by extreme political circles in Priština who, with the help of part of the international community, have sought to exclude Kosovo Serbs from the election process and reduce their political influence in the province.

The battle for the seats in the provincial parliament and political power of the Serbs in the provisional institutions has only just begun and without an agreement with the representatives of Serbia and the Serbian people, it will not be possible to constitute the provisional authorities in Priština, stressed the release from the government in Belgrade.

The participation in the...