Kosovo Serbs Announce Referendum Plan

Serb leaders in the divided northern Kosovo town of Mitrovica have said that a referendum should be held in the predominantly Serb area to ask residents if they wish to accept Pristina-based institutions.

B92, Tanjug

Mitrovica Mayor Krstimir Pantic said on Sunday that a referendum should be held in northern Kosovo on February 15, which is also Statehood Day in Serbia.

Following a meeting between the representatives of Serbs from northern Kosovo held in Zvecan, Pantic said that the four municipal leaders will make a decision on the holding of the referendum during the week, adding that the date will most likely be confirmed at the joint session of municipalities.

He said that the meeting in Zvecan was attended by the head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District, the presidents of four municipalities from northern Kosovo as well as parliament speakers, and committee presidents in local parliaments.

The Serbian government's regulation on freedom of movement at administrative crossings with Kosovo is unacceptable for the Serbs in Kosovo, Pantic told Tanjug.

The regulation is detrimental to the Serbs living in Kosovo and we do not agree with it, but we do not have the authority to put it out of force, Pantic underlined.

As part of an agreement reached between Pristina and Belgrade in July, citizens of Kosovo will be allowed to enter Serbia with their Kosovo license plates and IDs, which previously was not possible because Belgrade did not recognise documents issued by the authorities in Pristina.

Referring to the barricades blocking some roads in northern Kosovo, Pantic said that they will remain there. He noted, however, that local citizens will not enter into conflict with KFOR and EULEX, the EU rule of law mission, and that if the barricades are removed, the Serbs will set up new ones.

Kosovo Serbs erected barricades in July, some of which have since been taken down, in protest against an attempt by the Kosovo government to take control of the border with Serbia.